Murder suspect escapes State Judicial Guard custody in Chiapas

A murder suspect identified as Lorenzo Méndez López, 25, has escaped from the custody of the State Judicial Guard in Chiapas, Mexico. The State High Court of Justice (TSJE) clarified that the escape did not occur from within the penitentiary but while the suspect was under the guard's supervision in the court area.

The incident took place as Méndez López, originally from San Juan Cancuc, was awaiting an initial hearing at the Control Court and Trial Tribunals. According to the TSJE, the suspect requested to use the restroom, and during his transfer by a State Judicial Guard member, he managed to evade custody. The TSJE emphasized that the responsibility for the security, custody, and transfer of inmates rests with the State Judicial Guard, as per the law governing the operations of the Secretariat of Public Security.

The Secretariat of Public Security had initially reported that the detainee never entered the penitentiary and was under the custody of the Judicial Guard at the Control Court. The TSJE further explained that national security protocols for courtrooms stipulate that security personnel are responsible for ensuring the safety of detained individuals within the Justice Center, including the security area while awaiting hearings.

Authorities, including the Army, National Guard, and State Police, are actively searching for Méndez López. Patrols and checkpoints have been established along the San Cristóbal-Ocosingo highway. The escape has highlighted concerns about precarious conditions and alleged abandonment within the prison system, with some penal guards reportedly denouncing a lack of personnel and unaddressed demands, calling for the dismissal of prison leadership.