Tequila Executive Murdered in Jalisco After Kidnapping

Jalisco, Mexico — The business sector in Jalisco is in shock following the confirmed murder of tequila industrialist José Adrián Corona Radillo, president of Grupo Corona. The victim was found dead on December 29, 2025, two days after being abducted, a crime that leaves multiple questions about its motive.

Chronology of the Kidnapping in the Sierra Occidental of Jalisco

The murder of José Adrián Corona Radillo, also known as Adrián Corona, president of the family-owned Grupo Corona, occurred after a violent episode recorded in the Sierra Occidental Region of Jalisco. The events date back to December 27, 2025, when the businessman, originally from Tonaya, Jalisco, was traveling with his family (his partner and his children) towards Puerto Vallarta.

The attack took place on the highway leading to Talpa de Allende. Upon reaching the point known as Crucero Volcanes, within the municipality of Atenguillo, the vehicle was intercepted by a group of armed individuals.

According to testimonies gathered by authorities:

• The assailants stripped the family of valuables, such as phones and watches.
• They forcibly took only Corona Radillo.
• They left his companions (the partner and children) unharmed at the scene.

The family notified the authorities, who deployed search operations in the area, despite no immediate ransom demand being registered.

The Discovery and Forensic Findings

Only two days after the abduction, the body of José Adrián Corona Radillo was found lifeless. The discovery occurred on December 29, 2025, beside the highway, near the site where he was intercepted, in the same demarcation of Atenguillo.

The Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the businessman’s body showed various signs of violence, including blows and at least one gunshot wound. The forensic reports integrated into the investigation indicate that these injuries caused his death.

After completing the official identification procedures and corresponding legal processes, the body was handed over to his relatives for funeral services on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Motive of the Crime: The Absence of a Ransom Demand

One of the aspects that has drawn the most attention in the case is that there was no subsequent contact from the captors to request a ransom. This lack of communication, noted by sources close to the investigation, has led authorities to strengthen various lines of inquiry into the motive for the crime.

The investigations indicate that the attack occurred directly and quickly, leaving no room for reaction for the family. The aggressors acted with violence but left the companions unharmed.

The Regional Deputy Attorney General’s Office of the State Attorney General’s Office maintains the investigation file open with the aim of clarifying the homicide and locating those responsible. Authorities have not confirmed whether the attack was directly related to Corona’s business activity or due to other factors. So far, authorities have not reported any arrests linked to this case.

Profile of José Adrián Corona Radillo and Grupo Corona

Adrián Corona was a tequila businessman originally from Tonaya, Jalisco, widely recognized in the region for his leadership at the helm of Grupo Corona.

• Leadership: He served as president of Grupo Corona.
• Company: Grupo Corona is a family-owned company based in Tonaya, dedicated to the production, marketing, and promotion of tequila and mezcal, recognized for its trajectory in producing high-quality distilled spirits.
• Influence: He was identified as a relevant actor in the local economy due to job creation and his participation in the agave production chain, one of the main economic drivers of the region.

His murder has shocked the business sector of the Sierra Occidental and the Costa Norte of Jalisco, as well as residents, producers, and merchants of Tonaya and nearby municipalities, where Corona was an influential figure.

Community Response and Posthumous Tribute

Grupo Corona published a message on its Facebook page expressing its sorrow over the death and requested the community and staff to participate in the tribute and farewell activities, which were to be held in Tonaya, Jalisco, the Sunday following the delivery of the body.

The tribute program included:

1. The reception of employees and the general public at the Tonaya Plant.
2. The recitation of the Holy Rosary.
3. A profile and tribute to the businessman.
4. The Holy Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.
5. The transfer to the Tonaya cemetery.

The company requested attendees to dress in white during the events.

The violence exerted against the president of Grupo Corona, with the rapid execution and without apparent profit motives, suggests a worrying pattern in which key figures of the local economy become direct targets. This case, which has paralyzed the tequila sector, underscores the vulnerability of business leaders to crimes that escape the traditional logic of kidnapping.