Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran found murdered; CPJ demands justice

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last month |  JP Global Monitoring

Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran was found murdered in Durango. Rights groups urge justice, warning his death underscores Mexico’s ongoing crisis of violence against reporters.

Summary

MEXICO CITY — Mexican journalist Miguel Ángel Beltrán, 60, was found dead on Saturday morning, October 25, in the town of Río Chico, along the Durango–Mazatlan road. His body was wrapped in a blanket with a handwritten message that read: “For spreading lies about the people of Durango.”

The discovery was confirmed by his son on Sunday, October 26. He told reporters that Beltran had last been seen two days earlier when the two went out to work together.

Beltrán had an extensive career in local journalism, contributing to outlets such as Contexto and La Voz de Durango, where he covered sports and social issues. He also served as a spokesperson for the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) in Durango.

In recent years, Beltran shifted his work to digital media, maintaining a blog and several social media accounts. On TikTok, he was known as “El Capo,” while on Facebook, he operated the page “La Gazzeta Dgo,” where he often discussed local issues and, more recently, allegations linked to organized crime.

Authorities have yet to release official details regarding the motive or suspects. The Durango state prosecutor’s office has not commented publicly on the case or responded to requests for information.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killing, urging Mexican authorities to carry out a prompt, credible, and transparent investigation. “Journalist Miguel Ángel Beltrán’s shocking killing reaffirms Mexico’s abysmal status as the deadliest country for reporters in the Americas,” said CPJ’s Mexico Representative Jan-Albert Hootsen. “Mexican authorities must show some resolve by bringing Beltrán’s killers to justice.”

Beltrán’s murder adds to the alarming pattern of violence against journalists in Mexico, one of the most dangerous countries in the world for the press. In a similar case last November, another journalist, Javier Llamas, was found dead in Durango with a comparable message left near his body.

Media rights group Article 19 has documented numerous attacks on journalists in 2025, particularly those covering security, corruption, and organized crime. Press freedom advocates warn that impunity in such cases continues to embolden perpetrators.