Marisela Escobedo Ortiz


Marisela Escobedo Ortiz was a female Mexican social activist from Chihuahua City, who was killed while protesting the murder of her daughter that occurred in 2008.

Background

Marisela Escobedo Ortiz's social activism began in 2008 in Ciudad Juárez following the murder of her 16-year-old daughter Ruby Frayre. Marisela Escobedo and her husband claimed that their daughter was allegedly murdered by Sergio Rafael Barraza Bocanegra. They managed to locate Barraza in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, where he was arrested and taken to Juarez where he confessed to the crime in court and told of the burial of the remains of Ruby. Barraza was however acquitted by judges for lack of evidence and was released, thereby generating a scandal that became known nationally and internationally.
In response, Marisela Escobedo began a series of protests against the resolution against Chihuahua state authorities, asking for Barraza to be arrested and tried again, appealing the decision. A circuit court overturned the acquittal and Barraza was sentenced for murder, while Barraza remained a fugitive from justice. After numerous representations to the governors Jose Reyes Baeza Terrazas and Cesar Duarte Jáquez, they moved their protest to the Plaza Hidalgo in the city of Chihuahua in front of the Government Palace, the home of the governor, where on 16 December 2010 Marisela was killed by an unknown assassin by a single shot to the head.
Barraza, who was also suspected of ordering Escobedo's murder, was killed during a clash with the Mexican military in 2012.