Background on María del Carmen and Her Search for Ernesto Julián
María del Carmen Morales, a member of the Colectivo Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, was actively searching for her missing son, Ernesto Julián Ramirez Morales, who disappeared on February 27, 2024, in Tlajomulco.
Tragic Double Murder of Activist and Her Son
María del Carmen Morales and her son Jaime Daniel Ramirez Morales were brutally murdered in front of their home in the Las Villas neighborhood, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga.
Various organizations, including the Comité Universitario de Análisis en Materia de Desaparición de Personas from the University of Guadalajara, Colectivo Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, and Diálogo Nacional por la Paz, have condemned the killings as a direct attack on their search efforts and called for an immediate, thorough, and impartial investigation.
Vulnerability of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and Impact on Families
The Comité Universitario highlighted the undeniable link between Ernesto’s disappearance and María del Carmen’s murder, along with her brother’s death.
“Ignoring the context of violence in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga; normalizing the absence of authority that has shifted the search responsibility to families of victims, putting them at great risk; and re-victimizing the two brothers by implying their activities were related to the crimes is morally reprehensible and hinders addressing Jalisco’s serious violence problem with the seriousness, responsibility, and professionalism it requires,” stated in a press release.
Calls for Justice and Support
From the colectivo she belonged to, justice was demanded not only for María del Carmen and Jaime Daniel but also for Ernesto Julián, whose case remains unresolved.
“No more silence, no more impunity,” pleaded her fellow activists in a statement, also calling on President Claudia Sheinbaum to pressure the Jalisco state government and ensure effective protective actions.
Ongoing Investigation
Criminal Investigation Underway
In response to these incidents, the Jalisco fiscalía has initiated an investigation to identify those responsible.
“According to the investigation, the attack occurred at 23:30 hours on Wednesday, April 23, in Las Villas. Two men arrived on a motorcycle and directly assaulted the 26-year-old victim. In attempting to defend him, his mother, aged 43, was also injured. Both lost their lives,” the fiscalía reported.
“Currently, there are no elements suggesting a connection between this crime and María del Carmen’s role as a member of the missing persons’ search collective,” they added.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is María del Carmen Morales? She was a member of the Colectivo Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco and actively sought her missing son, Ernesto Julián Ramirez Morales.
- What happened to María del Carmen and her son? They were murdered in front of their home by two men on a motorcycle.
- Why are these killings significant? They are seen as a direct attack on the search efforts of activists and their families, highlighting the dangerous context in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga.
- What actions have been taken by authorities? The Jalisco fiscalía has launched an investigation to find those responsible.
- What support is being called for? Activists are demanding justice and urging President Claudia Sheinbaum to pressure the Jalisco state government for effective protective measures.
