Ten Murder Victims Found Across Mexican State of Zacatecas

Ten people were found murdered across various municipalities in the central-northern Mexican state of Zacatecas on Saturday, with authorities investigating the grim discoveries. The victims were found in Pánuco, Morelos, and Sain Alto.

Among those found dead was Ignacio Castrejón Valdez, a businessman and former mayor of Sombrerete from 2016 to 2018. Other victims were discovered hanging from a vehicular bridge, abandoned in public spaces, and on a state highway, according to local sources.

Rodrigo Reyes, the Secretary General of the Zacatecas government, confirmed the 10 homicides and stated that experts and police from the State Attorney General's Office are actively investigating. He noted that institutions forming the State Peacebuilding Table have deployed a large security operation to apprehend those responsible and reinforce the authorities' presence in the region.

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although in the last years this type of (violent) events has been reduced significantly, an event of this nature demands an immediate and forceful response from the State.

Reyes acknowledged that while violent incidents have significantly decreased in recent years due to inter-institutional security coordination, "an event of this nature demands an immediate and forceful response from the State." The current municipal president of Zacatecas, Miguel Varela, expressed deep consternation and condolences for the former mayor's death, calling the ongoing violence in Mexico and Zacatecas "very sad" and "indignant."

Zacatecas has transitioned from experiencing its most violent years to becoming one of the states with lower violence rates. However, its strategic geographic location makes it a key area for Mexican cartels that control different zones within the state. Earlier in the week, officials reported that Zacatecas had the second-greatest reduction in the average daily homicide rate nationwide during the first half of 2026, with 39 intentional homicides recorded in that period.

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very sad to see what continues to happen in Mexico and in Zacatecas, it is truly outrageous that we continue to live through situations like this and that often it seems there are no answers or justice for those who need it most.