In a perplexing turn of events, LGBTQ+ activists in Mexico are raising concerns and demanding answers regarding the death of the country’s first openly nonbinary magistrate, Jesús Ociel Baena. The state prosecutor, Jesús Figueroa Ortega, has stated that Baena was murdered by their partner, Dorian Herrera, in what appears to be a murder-suicide, challenging the suspicion of a hate crime that many within the LGBTQ+ community hold.
Ortega’s account detailed a gruesome scene, alleging that Herrera had stabbed Baena 20 times with a razor blade before taking his own life by slitting his throat. The violence reportedly began in Baena’s bedroom and left a trail of bloody footprints throughout the house. Ortega emphasized that there was no evidence of a third party involvement or forced entry and mentioned traces of methamphetamines in Herrera’s system. The bodies of Herrera and Baena were discovered on November 13, 2023, at Baena’s residence.
Doubts and Accusations
However, these official findings have not convinced friends and supporters of the deceased. Máximo Carrasco, a close friend of Baena and Herrera, dismissed Ortega’s theory as “completely unthinkable” and suggested it might be an attempt to close the case prematurely. Carrasco attested to the loving and respectful nature of the couple’s relationship, having seen them just a week before their tragic deaths. He firmly asserted that he believes Baena’s demise was indeed a hate crime.
Alejandro Brito, the director of Letra S, an LGBTQ+ rights group, criticized Ortega’s theory, labeling it as “loaded with prejudices” that erode trust in government authorities, especially within marginalized communities. Brito urged authorities to continue their investigation, emphasizing that Baena had received hate messages and threats of violence due to their advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. He suggested that Baena’s murder could be an attempt to silence and intimidate the LGBTQ+ community.
Calls for Federal Intervention
Víctor Espíndola, the executive director of Movement for Equality in Mexico, raised doubts about Ortega’s claims, highlighting the absence of surveillance cameras and witnesses in the house. Espíndola’s organization, along with several others, has called for the federal attorney general’s office to take over the case, expressing concerns about the credibility of the state prosecutor’s findings.
Baena’s father, Juan Baena, also voiced skepticism about the ongoing investigation, fearing an incorrect judgment by the justice system. He pointed out that only 1% of all crimes in Mexico were reported, investigated, and resolved in 2022, according to a survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, underscoring the need for a thorough and unbiased inquiry.
As doubts persist and the LGBTQ+ community seeks justice, the case of Jesús Ociel Baena’s death remains a matter of great concern and controversy in Mexico.