The body of journalist Jesús Alberto Camacho Rodríguez, missing since 2019, was identified after remaining unrecognized for three years at the Forensic Medical Service (SEMEFO) in Culiacán, Sinaloa.
His identification was achieved by matching fingerprints with the records of the National Electoral Institute (INE). The discovery has sparked outrage, as his body was in the morgue without being identified all this time. This reflects the systematic failures in handling missing persons in Mexico.
Jesús Alberto Camacho Rodríguez
A missing journalist forgotten
Jesús Camacho, an independent journalist and collaborator in local media, disappeared in 2019 without significant progress in his case. His family and human rights organizations denounced the lack of interest from the authorities.
Since his disappearance, the case was abandoned by the Sinaloa Prosecutor's Office. For years, his family searched for him on their own, approaching government and forensic agencies without obtaining answers.
"We spent years in uncertainty. No one informed us of anything. We don't understand how his body was in the morgue for so long without notifying us," a family member declared to local media.
Camacho's discovery occurred after a review of unidentified corpses in Sinaloa. It was only then that the authorities matched his fingerprints with national databases, which allowed them to confirm his identity.
Unidad de medicina forense
A forensic crisis without response
Camacho's case has caused indignation among family members, journalists, and human rights defenders. His body remained in the morgue for three years without being identified, highlighting the collapse of the forensic system in Mexico.
Thousands of unrecognized corpses remain stored in state facilities. The lack of coordination between institutions and governmental negligence exacerbate the problem.
According to the Sinaloa Committee of the Disappeared, more than 5,000 bodies have gone unidentified in recent years. This figure reflects the humanitarian crisis and impunity that persist in the country.
Family demands justice and clarification of the case
After the confirmation of his identity, Camacho's family has demanded that the Sinaloa Prosecutor's Office clarify the circumstances of his death.
So far, the exact cause of his death has not been revealed, nor whether he suffered violence. It has also not been determined if his disappearance was related to his journalistic work.
Organizations like Article 19 and Reporters Without Borders have called for the case to be investigated as a possible crime against freedom of expression. Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, and the risks for them continue to increase.
Mexico: A graveyard for journalists
According to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for practicing journalism. In the last 20 years, more than 160 journalists have been killed, most in total impunity.
The case of Jesús Alberto Camacho is yet another in the long list of silenced journalists in the country. The big question remains: who protects communicators in Mexico?
