Femicide suspect caught in Cancún after 5-year manhunt

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Jorge Ernesto, the prime suspect in the 2020 femicide of his ex-partner, María Elizabeth, a teacher from San Martín Texmelucan, Puebla, was apprehended in Cancún on July 9, 2025. His arrest followed a traffic altercation during which he allegedly threatened municipal police officers. Authorities discovered an active arrest warrant for him during a background check.

The Crime and Escape

Jorge Ernesto and María Elizabeth, who shared two children, separated in 2017. She retained custody, while he visited the children on weekends. On February 14, 2020, an argument escalated when he arrived at her home in the Magisterial neighborhood. Witnesses reported he strangled her with a cable before fleeing with their children, whom he abandoned the following day. He then vanished, evading capture for over five years.

The Arrest

Cancún municipal transit officers detained Jorge Ernesto after he became aggressive during a traffic dispute. A routine check revealed his outstanding warrant. Authorities plan to extradite him to Puebla to face charges for María Elizabeth’s murder.

Key Details:

• Victim: María Elizabeth, a teacher and mother of two.
• Suspect: Jorge Ernesto, her former partner.
• Crime: Femicide by strangulation on February 14, 2020.
• Capture: July 9, 2025, in Cancún, Quintana Roo.

The case highlights ongoing challenges in combating gender-based violence in Mexico. Authorities urge witnesses or those with additional information to come forward.