Mexican TikToker’s Murder Sparks Femicide Investigation
In Zapopan, Mexico, the tragic killing of 23-year-old TikToker Valeria Marquez has prompted authorities to investigate the case as a femicide, according to prosecutors. The incident, which occurred in a city grappling with rising violence, has drawn attention to the broader issue of gender-based killings in the region. Juan Jose Frangie, the mayor of Zapopan, told AFP that his office had no prior record of Marquez seeking assistance due to threats, emphasizing the severity of femicide as “the worst thing.”
On the same day, just two kilometers away, former congressman Luis Armando Cordoba Diaz was also murdered. This proximity underscores the escalating violence in Zapopan, a city where organized crime is deeply entrenched. The U.S. Department of Justice notes that over half of the area’s real estate and commercial development is tied to money laundering from drug trafficking, highlighting the influence of cartels in the region.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) reported, via Reuters, that Mexico recorded 1.3 deaths per 100,000 women in 2023, reflecting the persistent challenge of femicide across the country. Marquez’s death has reignited discussions about the safety of women in Mexico and the urgent need to address systemic violence.
