Missing Tekax teen found dead; child labor probe widens

Tekax, Yucatán — The death of Joel Lizandro López Collí, a 15-year-old adolescent from Tekax, was confirmed this Saturday by municipal authorities. His case has raised new concerns about the alleged recruitment of minors from Yucatán for work in Tulum, with their whereabouts still unknown.

Identity of Minor Found in Tulum Confirmed

The mayor of Tekax, Hervé Manuel Vallejos Sansores, reported that state authorities notified that the body found in Tulum corresponds to Joel Lizandro, who had been under an Amber Alert since November 19 after disappearing on October 27. The mayor expressed his sorrow over the incident and called for strengthening community protection for children and adolescents.

Details on the Disappearance

According to information from the Yucatán Prosecutor’s Office, the young man was last seen in the San Ignacio neighborhood of Tekax. The minor’s identity was confirmed thanks to data disseminated by the Quintana Roo Prosecutor’s Office, which had published images of unidentified deceased persons to request citizen assistance.

Allegations of Labor Recruitment of Adolescents

On social media, versions have circulated about five minors from Tekax and Akil—four boys and one adolescent girl—who allegedly left their homes in mid-October with a man who purportedly offered them employment in Tulum. Families claim they have had no communication with them since then. Among the names mentioned are Mauri Alonzo and Sandi Chel, with reported ages varying between 12 and 17 years.

Concern Over Possible Child Labor Cases

The case has reignited the discussion about child labor in the region. Deputy Bayardo Ojeda Marrufo expressed his solidarity with Joel Lizandro’s family and demanded that the circumstances of his disappearance and death be clarified. He noted that no official data have been released on the place or cause of death, nor on the situation of the other adolescents.

The legislator called for reinforcing coordination between schools, families, and public institutions to prevent minors from being violated by individuals seeking to exploit them.

Call to Investigate a Labor Exploitation Network

Ojeda Marrufo urged authorities to thoroughly investigate a possible network that recruits minors for forced labor in the region. He also announced that he will present a proposal to strengthen community surveillance and prevention programs in neighborhoods with greater vulnerability.