Nanchital, Veracruz — Mexican authorities have confirmed the death of journalist Roxana Berenice Guzman Ramirez, who was kidnapped from her home on June 2 and found dead after 24 days missing.
The Mexican Navy (Semar) announced that Guzman’s body was located following the arrest of a suspect identified as Jose del Carmen, alias “Delta 7,” who is believed to have participated in the kidnapping.
According to investigators, armed men broke into Guzman’s home in the early hours of June 2 in the municipality of Nanchital, southern Veracruz. They forced her out of the house while her family members were present and witnessed the abduction.
Video footage of the kidnapping circulated widely on social media and became a key piece of evidence. The footage helped identify “Delta 7,” who reportedly provided crucial information leading to the discovery of Guzman’s body.
After his arrest, the suspect told authorities that Guzman had been killed after the kidnapping and indicated the location where it occurred. Security forces then conducted operations in various parts of southern Veracruz, particularly in the municipality of Moloacan, where search efforts were concentrated.
Guzman’s kidnapping sparked widespread outrage and mobilization among press freedom organizations and journalist groups, who demanded federal and state authorities intensify efforts to locate her. Ten days after her disappearance, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office took over the investigation through its Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Freedom of Expression.
The journalist’s mother, Rubicelia Ramirez, led efforts for weeks, seeking support from authorities and keeping the search active. She repeatedly expressed her concern and uncertainty over the lack of information about her daughter’s whereabouts.
Guzman was well known in the region for her work leading Pulso Informativo del Sureste, a digital news outlet covering local issues in southern Veracruz. Her disappearance provoked indignation among colleagues and journalist organizations.
With the confirmation of her death, authorities continue investigating to fully clarify the events, identify all those involved, and determine the circumstances that led to the journalist’s murder.
