Five Men Sentenced to Over 37 Years for Murder in Playa del Carmen

Five men sentenced for homicide in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A court has sentenced five men to 37 years and six months in prison for the aggravated murder of a Guatemalan man in November 2022, the state prosecutor’s office announced.

The Quintana Roo State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) secured the conviction after presenting evidence during trial. The verdict was announced by Attorney General Raciel López Salazar at a security cabinet meeting.

The convicted individuals are Ramón Hernández Hernández, Cristóbal Montejo Cruz, Óscar Hernández Guillén, Melitón Cruz Álvarez, and Fidencio Cruz Álvarez.

According to the investigation, on the night of November 10, 2022, the five men were with the victim in a basement on Fifth Avenue between 36th and 38th streets in the downtown area. They immobilized him by placing tape over his mouth, then two held his arms while the other three beat him with their hands and wooden boards, causing death by asphyxiation.

The following day, three of the men wrapped the body in black plastic bags and abandoned it in a vehicle parked in the Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood, where authorities later found it.

In addition to the prison term, each defendant must pay a fine of 216,495 pesos (about $11,500) and 874,722.20 pesos (about $46,500) in material damages.

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By Javier Mendez

Javier Mendez covers public safety, law enforcement, and legal affairs in Quintana Roo. He monitors official reports from the FGE (State Prosecutor's Office), the Mexican Navy, and municipal police to deliver accurate English summaries of crime, trafficking cases, arrests, and court rulings affecting the Riviera Maya region.Javier has been covering crime and public safety news since 2023, reporting on cases ranging from felony arrests and human trafficking investigations to court proceedings and organized crime-related incidents across Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal. His reporting provides English-speaking residents and travelers with reliable, timely information about safety conditions in Quintana Roo's major tourist destinations.Javier works closely with official government sources and press offices to verify facts before publication, and maintains an archive of law enforcement communications to provide context for ongoing stories. He is dedicated to accurate, factual reporting on complex safety issues that affect both residents and visitors to the region.For story tips: javier@rivieramayanews.mx