Five people, including the keyboardist for the Mexican indie band Camilo Séptimo, his wife, their young daughter, and their nanny, were found dead Tuesday in an apartment in Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico. The couple's 6-year-old son was the sole survivor.
Jonathan Meléndez, 38, was found shot in his master bedroom. His wife, Ana Paula, 35, who was four months pregnant, and their 3-year-old daughter, Sofia, were discovered in a nearby bathroom, both having sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The family's nanny, Aleida Romero Victoria, 21, was found deceased in a utility room. The family's dog was also found dead, with its bindings noted by prosecutors.
Meléndez's business partner, identified by prosecutors as Diego Sebastián “N,” and an accomplice, Gerardo “N,” have been arrested in connection with the massacre. Authorities suspect the killings occurred between 5:30 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday. The victims' bodies were discovered just before midnight by a friend of Meléndez.
Investigators believe the business partner, who managed rental properties with Meléndez on Airbnb, exploited a relationship of trust to gain access to the apartment. Surveillance footage shows Diego Sebastián “N” using an elevator in the building approximately 25 minutes after Meléndez had a phone call with a friend about an upcoming meeting with his associate. Meléndez had reportedly instructed his friend to call the police if he did not hear from him later that night. Robbery has been ruled out as a motive, as the apartment did not appear to have been ransacked.
Meléndez co-founded Camilo Séptimo in 2013. The band was nominated for best new artist at the 2015 Indie-O-Music Awards, and its song "No confíes en mí" was nominated for song of the year. The band released a statement mourning the loss of Meléndez and his family, stating, "They will live forever in our hearts. Honas, we celebrate your music, your life, and your light. Rest in peace."