In a heartbreaking turn of events, Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community and beyond are mourning the untimely death of Jesús Ociel Baena, the country’s first nonbinary magistrate, in circumstances that have raised concerns and questions about the investigation. Baena, a prominent figure in Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community, met a tragic end alongside their partner, Dorian Herrera, in their home in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes.
The initial shock and grief surrounding their deaths were compounded by the circumstances. Baena, 38, had played a pioneering role in LGBTQ+ rights, becoming the first person to receive a nonbinary designation on their birth certificate and a Mexican passport with a nonbinary gender designation. Their journey continued with the historic achievement of a gender-neutral magistrate title, signifying significant progress in Mexico’s culturally conservative landscape.
However, the narrative surrounding their demise took a dark turn when the lead prosecutor, Jesús Figueroa Ortega, asserted that the tragic incident was not a hate crime, as many initially suspected. Instead, the prosecutor presented a theory of a murder-suicide involving Baena and their lawyer and model boyfriend, Dorian Herrera, aged 37.
According to Ortega, a fight erupted in the upstairs bedroom of their home, where Herrera attacked Baena with a blade. The state of the bed and the pattern of bloodstains supported this claim. The violence continued as they moved downstairs, where Baena sustained multiple stab wounds, including a fatal gash to the jugular. Herrera, investigators believe, then returned upstairs to retrieve another knife before ending his own life by slitting his own throat, leaving both lifeless bodies on the ground floor, mere centimeters apart.
This theory has been met with skepticism and calls for a federal investigation from members of the LGBTQ+ community. Alejandro Brito, director of the LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S, expressed concerns about potential prejudices within the state prosecution and its statements, emphasizing that clarity and unbiased investigation are essential.
Víctor Espíndola, executive director of the nonprofit Movement for Equality in Mexico, challenged Ortega’s version of events, citing the absence of evidence such as cameras in the house and witnesses. Espíndola called for the federal attorney general’s office to take over the case, underlining the need for a thorough and trustworthy inquiry.
Baena’s father, Juan Baena, also disagreed with the prosecutor’s assertions, voicing doubts about the judgment of the justice system.
As Mexico mourns the loss of Jesús Ociel Baena, questions persist, and the LGBTQ+ community seeks answers, justice, and closure in this tragic chapter. The investigation remains open, with the promise of following the evidence to its conclusion. The legacy of a trailblazing nonbinary magistrate continues to be celebrated, while the circumstances of their passing demand rigorous examination.