Mexico: "La Mataviejitas" Released from Prison for Kidney Treatment

Juana Barraza, infamously known as “La Mataviejitas” (The Little Old Lady Killer), has been temporarily released from the Santa Martha Acatitla prison to receive medical treatment. The 759-year sentence she is serving stems from convictions for the serial murders of 16 elderly individuals, a crime spree that began in the 1990s.

Barraza was admitted to a hospital in the Iztapalapa borough on Sunday. According to the Mexico City Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), she is being treated for diagnosed kidney failure. Officials indicated that her release is temporary and dependent on her medical condition and response to treatment. She is expected to return to the penitentiary once her condition stabilizes.

This is not the first time Barraza has left prison due to health issues. In July 2023, she was hospitalized after suffering a fractured femur from a fall, subsequently returning to prison. Her current medical situation highlights the challenges of managing long-term inmate healthcare, even for individuals convicted of heinous crimes.