Authorities in Baja California Sur found the body of 18-year-old Dayra Michell Geraldo Mendoza inside a home in Los Planes on Thursday night. The Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado (PGJE), the state attorney general’s office, is investigating her death as a femicide.
The discovery came at approximately 10:25 p.m. on April 10 at a residence on Calle Emiliano Zapata in the Colonia Centro of Los Planes, a small community about 45 minutes southeast of La Paz. Geraldo Mendoza’s body showed signs of violence, according to the PGJE.
Missing Just Hours Before Discovery
Geraldo Mendoza had been reported missing earlier that same day. Authorities activated the Alba Protocol, Mexico’s rapid-response search system for missing women and girls, after she was last seen on April 9 in Los Planes. The search ended hours later with the grim discovery.
The PGJE stated it has a “firm commitment to exhaust all lines of investigation” to ensure the femicide does not go unpunished. The office said it would keep the public informed while respecting due process and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Family Calls for End to Revictimization
Geraldo Mendoza’s family issued a public statement calling on media outlets and the general public to “stop the revictimization and the use of others’ pain as content.” The statement was reported by Peninsular Digital on April 10.
Los Planes, formally known as San Juan de los Planes, is a rural farming and fishing community in the municipality of La Paz. The area is popular with expats and visitors who travel there for its beaches at Bahía de los Muertos and Ensenada de los Muertos, located a short drive east of the town.
Under Mexican law, femicide is classified as a distinct crime involving the murder of a woman when specific circumstances of gender-based violence are present. It carries heavier penalties than standard homicide charges. Baja California Sur has faced scrutiny in recent years over rising cases of violence against women across the state.
This story was first reported by Noticias La Paz and Peninsular Digital.