Two men from Chicago, who had relocated to Mexico City, were found dead on the outskirts of the Mexican capital last week, their family confirmed on Wednesday. Zafar Padamese Mawani, a U.S. citizen, and his partner Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz had been reported missing in May.
Authorities had been searching for the couple after making arrests in connection with their disappearance. Detainees subsequently informed officials of locations to search, leading Mexican prosecutors to discover four unidentified bodies in the mountains. Mawani's family stated that Mexican authorities confirmed the deaths of the two men.
"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," the family wrote in a statement.
Mawani, 56, and Hidalgo Ortiz, also 56, were reportedly spending time in Mexico to care for Mawani's mother. Unusual withdrawals from the couple's bank accounts were reported in late May. Mawani was a U.S. citizen, while Hidalgo Ortiz's nationality was not specified in the missing-person bulletin issued by Mexico City authorities.
More than 135,000 people are missing in Mexico due to criminal violence, according to the most recent federal data. The number of missing individuals continues to increase, even as homicide figures have decreased since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in 2024. In May alone, 977 people were reported missing in Mexico.
Recent protests by relatives of missing persons have highlighted concerns about the issue, particularly as Mexico co-hosts the FIFA World Cup. Demonstrators are calling for increased attention and resources for searches, which are often led by families themselves. A recurring complaint from these groups is that authorities tend to act more quickly when the missing individuals are foreigners.