Background and Relevance of the Case
According to data from the National Registry of Missing and Unidentified Persons, maintained by Mexico’s Secretariat of Government, since 1952 until April 20, 2025, there have been 31 cases of journalist disappearances in Mexico, with 14 still missing; three more cases have resulted in the discovery of their bodies, and 14 have been found alive. Of these cases, 27 involved male journalists and four were female.
The official data shows that Guerrero had the most cases of this nature, with eight reported instances. Michoacán followed closely with five missing journalists; Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Veracruz each had two cases. Baja California Sur, the Federal District, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, the State of Mexico, Morelos, Quintana Roo, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas each reported one case.
The National Registry, under the Secretariat of Government, revealed that 2020 had the most cases of disappeared communicators with seven instances; 2022 and 2023 followed with four cases each; 2021 had three cases, and 2024 accounted for two. There are also three cases where the year of disappearance remains unknown.
Veracruz Journalist Miguel Ángel Anaya Castillo
The most recent case of a missing journalist is that of Miguel Ángel Anaya Castillo, director of the independent news outlet Pánuco Online, who went missing on April 13. This disappearance comes amidst prior threats, acts of harassment, and political pressures, as reported by Artículo 19 México y Centroamérica.
Anaya Castillo had previously denounced acts of intimidation at his residence since February, involving three civilians claiming to be emissaries of the Pánuco municipal president. The men reportedly said, “We have a message; it’s nothing bad, come, let’s talk,” with one of them keeping his hand inside a fanny pack as if holding a concealed object. After refusing the contact, Anaya Castillo called 911 and fled when hearing the patrol siren in a gray Versa car.
This incident occurred after Anaya Castillo covered a protest in Pánuco on February 26, where activists and residents demanded the local authorities stop using a sanitary landfill, allegedly causing illnesses due to poor health management. In December 2024, Anaya Castillo reported that individuals claiming to work for the municipal government requested a meeting, offering money and employment opportunities within the local government to prevent critical news coverage.
Protocol Activation
Following the disclosure of Anaya Castillo’s disappearance by Artículo 19, the Comisión Estatal de Atención y Protección de los Periodistas (CEAPP) activated protocols for attention and location. The CEAPP is collaborating with the state’s criminal justice system and local public security authorities.
“This weekend, CEAPP officials traveled to Las Ánimas community to support the authorities conducting relevant investigations,” stated a CEAPP communication.
Since learning of the events, the CEAPP has activated attention and location protocols for Anaya Castillo and his family, originating from northern Veracruz.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Miguel Ángel Anaya Castillo? He is a Veracruz-based journalist and director of the independent news outlet Pánuco Online.
- Why is his case significant? His disappearance follows prior threats, harassment, and political pressures. He had previously reported acts of intimidation at his residence.
- What actions have been taken? The Comisión Estatal de Atención y Protección de los Periodistas (CEAPP) has activated attention and location protocols, collaborating with state criminal justice and local public security authorities.
- What is the National Registry of Missing and Unidentified Persons? It’s a database maintained by Mexico’s Secretariat of Government, tracking cases of missing persons, including journalists.
- What is the Protocolo Homologado de Búsqueda de Personas Desaparecidas? It’s a standardized search protocol for missing persons, requested by Artículo 19 México y Centroamérica to locate Anaya Castillo.
