A missing Chicago couple, identified as US citizen Zafar Padamese Mawani and his partner Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz, were found dead on the outskirts of Mexico City last week, their family confirmed Wednesday.
Mawani and Ortiz had been missing since May after traveling to Mexico to care for Mawani’s mother. They were last seen south of the Mexican capital.
Authorities began searching for the couple, both 56, after they were reported missing. Federal officials confirmed Mawani was a US citizen, while Mexico City authorities issued a bulletin for Ortiz.
Detainees later provided authorities with information that led investigators to discover four unidentified bodies in the mountains. The family of Mawani confirmed through Mexican authorities that their loved ones were among the deceased.
"We are grateful beyond words to everyone who tried to help bring Zafar home to us — investigators on the ground, our core strategy and support team, authorities in both countries, generous volunteer organizations, as well as friends and loved ones who stepped forward to help without being asked," Mawani's family said in a statement.
NBC News Chicago reported in late May that unusual withdrawals were made from the couple’s bank accounts. Mawani and Ortiz had previously lived in Chicago before relocating to Mexico City.
Mexico faces a significant challenge with missing persons, with over 135,000 people officially reported missing due to criminal violence, according to recent federal data. In May alone, 977 individuals were reported missing across the country. Despite a drop in homicide figures since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in 2024, the number of missing persons continues to rise.
Families of missing individuals in Mexico have staged protests, particularly as the country co-hosts the FIFA World Cup, demanding increased attention and resources for searches. A recurring complaint from these groups is that authorities tend to act more swiftly when the missing individuals are foreigners.