Femicide Case Remains Unsolved After 7 Years

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo — Seven years after the double femicide of a mother and her daughter in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, which occurred on August 23, 2018, the Itzá Cobá family has denounced that the case remains in a state of impunity due to a failure to comply with court-ordered reparations and alleged irregularities in the judicial process in Quintana Roo.

A Crime That Left Two Women Without Justice

The femicide was committed by Jesús Elizama Beh Pech, who was a minor at the time and the romantic partner of one of the victims. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay 971,000 pesos in reparations for the damages. However, after declaring himself insolvent, the obligation to cover this amount was supposed to fall upon his parents, Elizama Beh Cituk and Lucy Imelda Pech, in accordance with prevailing legislation.

The crime not only took the lives of two women but also left a 17-year-old girl without a mother or sister. Her older brother, Carlos Alberto Itzá Cobá, assumed responsibility for her care and maintenance.

Political Influence and Judicial Obstacles

According to the Itzá Cobá family, the aggressor's parents—who are allegedly linked to local politics—used their influence to evade payment of the court-ordered reparations. In 2021, Carlos Itzá Cobá filed a civil lawsuit (case file 1021/2021) to demand compliance with the sentence, but the process has been obstructed by legal injunctions and judicial delays.

"The person responsible is already free because the law allows it, but the civil judge has not done what is necessary to resolve the lawsuit. The parents do not want to assume their responsibility, even though there is proof that they possess assets," stated Carlos Itzá Cobá.

Failed Attempt to Seize Assets

In April 2024, the family attempted to seize a property registered under the name of Elizama Beh Cituk to cover the reparations. However, the request was rejected despite records indicating the property was still under the defendant's name.

The Public Property Registry reported that a sale of the land was registered on May 27, which, according to the family, prevented the seizure from being executed. Furthermore, they allege that the director of the agency, Miriam González Pliego, has not provided the documentation clarifying the change of ownership nor has she reimbursed the fees paid for the transaction.

Lack of Institutional Support

The family also denounced the lack of support from the Executive Commission for Victim Assistance of Quintana Roo (Ceaveqroo). Julissa, the surviving sister who is registered in the state victim registry, has not received legal, psychological, or educational support, despite her vulnerable condition.

Accusations Against the Judiciary

The civil process falls under the jurisdiction of Judge César Rafael Sandoval Vázquez, the presiding judge of the Civil Court of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The family accuses him of delaying the process and allegedly favoring the aggressor's parents. The injunctions filed by the defendants have prolonged the lack of a resolution, while the affected family continues to face profound emotional impact in the absence of effective justice.

Call to the Superior Court of Justice

Carlos Itzá Cobá issued a call to the presiding magistrate of the Superior Court of Justice of Quintana Roo, Heyden Cebada Rivas, to supervise the case and guarantee the fulfillment of the court-ordered reparations in accordance with the law.

"We are not seeking vengeance, only justice. Seven years have passed and we are still waiting for the system to work."