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PAN deputy asks Mexico City prosecutor to investigate deaths of 6 inmates at Santa Martha Acatitla prison
🇲🇽 Mexico /Crime & Justice

PAN deputy asks Mexico City prosecutor to investigate deaths of 6 inmates at Santa Martha Acatitla prison

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A Mexican legislator has filed a complaint urging an investigation into the deaths of six female inmates at Santa Martha Acatitla prison.
  • The deaths occurred within a 90-day period between March and June 2026, prompting concerns about potential negligence or responsibility by prison authorities.
  • The legislator emphasized that the state has an absolute obligation to protect the lives and safety of individuals in its custody.

A local legislator from Mexico's National Action Party (PAN) has formally requested the Attorney General's Office of Mexico City to investigate the deaths of six female inmates at the Santa Martha Acatitla Women's Social Reinsertion Center. Deputy Olivia Garza filed a complaint, seeking to clarify the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.

Six women dead in three months inside a prison cannot be seen as just another statistic. It is not normal, it cannot be normalized, and someone must answer for what is happening in Santa Martha Acatitla.

— Olivia GarzaCommenting on the series of inmate deaths at the Santa Martha Acatitla prison.

The six women, identified as Rosa, Vanessa, Viridiana, María Elena, Mónica Valeria, and Diana Laura, died between March 12 and June 12, 2026. Garza stated that these deaths, occurring within a three-month span, cannot be dismissed as mere statistics and demand accountability.

Garza specifically highlighted the case of Diana Laura, who was reportedly found dead in the Módulo area days before her scheduled release. While authorities reported her death as a suicide, the legislator insists on a thorough investigation to rule out any omissions, negligence, or institutional responsibility. "The door of a cell does not cancel human rights," Garza asserted, emphasizing the state's absolute duty to protect the safety, integrity, and lives of those deprived of their liberty.

The door of a cell does not cancel human rights. When a person is deprived of liberty, the state has an absolute obligation to protect their safety, their integrity, and their life.

— Olivia GarzaEmphasizing the state's responsibility for inmates' well-being.

The PAN deputy expressed dismay that the prison continues to operate as if these deaths were isolated incidents, lacking clear explanations. She urged authorities to break their silence and conduct a serious investigation to determine failures in protocols, supervision, medical care, or surveillance. "Santa Martha Acatitla cannot become a place where women enter under state custody and leave lifeless," she concluded, demanding answers on what happened, who failed, and what measures will prevent future occurrences.

Santa Martha Acatitla cannot become a place where women enter under state custody and leave lifeless. The authority must explain what happened, who failed, and what will be done to prevent it from happening again.

— Olivia GarzaDemanding accountability and preventative measures from prison authorities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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