Uruapan Mayor Faces Escalating Violence After Partner's Assassination

Mayor Grecia Quiroz now travels through Uruapan in a convoy of three armored cars and two military trucks.

The heavy security detail protects her around the clock with 60 federally appointed bodyguards. This level of protection follows the assassination of her partner, Carlos Alberto Manzo, nearly one year ago. Manzo was shot in the city's main plaza during Day of the Dead celebrations. He had built a national reputation for challenging criminal groups and the ruling Morena party. His death has left a political vacuum in the city, located 400 kilometers west of Mexico City.

Manzo was one of at least 13 mayors killed in Mexico during the two years since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office. An Associated Press tally of official reports confirms this figure. This rate contrasts with the previous administration, where civil society groups recorded 23 sitting mayors killed over six years. The killings complicate the government's response to pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on cartels and local corruption.

The investigation into Manzo's death has expanded significantly. State prosecutors have detained 34 people in connection with the conspiracy. Among the suspects are seven of Manzo's own bodyguards who were present during the attack. Authorities also accused members of his government of leaking his movements. Manzo's godson is accused of helping plan the assassination. On Thursday, prosecutors detained the city's secretary of welfare. They alleged she obstructed justice and is related to two members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel arrested in the case.

Quiroz has declined to hand over Manzo's cellphone to investigators. This decision has drawn criticism from Manzo's brother, Juan Manzo, a state legislator. He accused Quiroz of shielding those responsible for his brother's death. "She has not been transparent during the investigation," Juan Manzo said. Quiroz denied the claims, stating that her family was betrayed by those closest to them. She told supporters that slander and dirty tactics would not stop her from moving forward.

Violence in Uruapan has increased in recent weeks. State authorities documented 17 killings, eight gunshot injuries, and four attacks on properties in October. Over the weekend, a masked gunman killed one of two women at a taco stand. Police also found two burned and tortured men in an avocado field that same day. Local residents report rising extortion from local mafias. Store owner David Vázquez said his family temporarily closed their business due to these threats. He criticized the visible security detail for Quiroz, noting that the guards protect only her and her family.

In response to the surge, Quiroz requested federal assistance. State authorities sent 200 law enforcement officers to the city on Tuesday. The mayor wrote on social media that the city deserves to live in peace. She described the memory of preparing last year's Day of the Dead celebrations as a painful countdown. Posters and busts of Manzo now cover the plaza where he died. His public grave remains covered in flowers, food offerings, and white sombreros.