March for Dafne Zapata in Ciudad Madero; 'She didn't die, she was murdered,' question lack of progress

A somber march filled the streets of Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, as former students, parents, and activists gathered to demand justice for 13-year-old Dafne Zapata Quintos. Dafne died under suspicious circumstances at the Marina Doenitz Military Academy, and her mother, Alejandra Quintos, led the call for accountability.

Participants carried signs with stark messages, including "Killer" and "Dafne didn't die, she was murdered," reflecting their belief that her death was not natural. They gathered outside the academy, placing photos and messages on its walls, before proceeding peacefully toward the Municipal Presidency.

Several attendees shared disturbing accounts of alleged excesses within the military academy. One mother recounted her daughter's fear, describing how students were reportedly punished for speaking out and that instructors, Sergeant Jesús Mora and Sergeant América Mora, children of Commander Mora, were in charge. This mother expressed deep regret over enrolling her daughter, who was preparing for high school.

Esperanza, a former student, voiced frustration over the slow pace of the investigation. "It seems strange, because for the time this case has been ongoing, there should already be an arrest," she stated, emphasizing fears that those responsible might flee the city if action isn't taken swiftly by the Tamaulipas Attorney General's Office.

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Dafne no murió, a ella la mataron