Killing of teenage girl amplifies gender violence protests in Mexico
The disappearance
Debanhi Escobar, an 18-year-old law student, vanished on April 9 amid a spate of disappearances of women in Nuevo Leon's capital Monterrey that has sparked protests and intensified international scrutiny of gender violence in Mexico.
“The body found is Debanhi’s, and the cause of death is a profound contusion to the skull,” state attorney general Gustavo Guerrero said in a Facebook live video. All lines of investigation are open, he said.
Debanhi was last seen alive standing next to a highway, in a photo snapped by a driver contracted to take her home after a party.
Father accuses authorities for mishandling investigation
Debanhi’s father, Mario Escobar, on Friday accused the driver of trying to grope his daughter's breasts, citing video camera footage, suggesting this is what led her to get out of the car. What happened after she exited the vehicle is unclear.
The driver could not be reached for comment.
In an interview with local media, Escobar accused authorities of mishandling the investigation.
"My daughter is dead because of incompetent (authorities), and because of sexual harassers," he said.
Government to hunt for possible errors in investigation
The state attorney general’s office told Reuters that in the course of the case’s investigation it would be determined whether any errors were made, voluntary or involuntarily, during the search for Debanhi.
The governor, Samuel Garcia, said this week that the local government had mobilized additional resources in the search for Debanhi and other missing women.
Mexican president assures proper investigation
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gave his condolences to the family on Friday and said the teenager's death could be investigated by the federal attorney general's office at the family's request so that there are "no doubts" over the case.
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