Ex-Councilman Found Executed, Tortured in Bacalar

BACALAR — Juan Sepúlveda Palacios, a former councilman of the Bacalar City Council, is believed to be the man found executed with clear signs of torture. His body was discovered in a rural area, an incident that has caused widespread shock in the political and social circles of the municipality.

The discovery was made at 9:30 a.m. on Monday along the highway connecting the communities of Nuevo Canaan and Miguel Alemán. Workers on their way to jobs at a livestock collection center found the body of a man beside the asphalt road, his eyes and mouth bound. The witnesses were reportedly so terrified that after notifying the delegate of Nuevo Canaan, Amalia Gómez Pérez, they left the area without attempting a full identification.

The Rural Police arrived at the scene and confirmed a preliminary identity. The physical characteristics and clothing of the deceased matched those of Sepúlveda Palacios, who held public office in the Bacalar municipal administration. Authorities observed the victim was not only blindfolded and gagged but also showed multiple signs of violence, reinforcing the theory he was subjected to interrogation or physical punishment before being abandoned.

News of the discovery spread quickly in the town of Miguel Alemán, where residents reported recognizing the former official. Authorities have not released an official statement pending the results of an autopsy and formal identification by family members before the State Attorney General's Office. The area was cordoned off by state and federal forces, who established a security perimeter while forensic experts collected evidence.

No arrests have been reported in connection with the homicide. The Prosecutor's Office is keeping all lines of investigation open, including possible links to the victim's political or business activity in the municipality.