Father José Luis Rodríguez de Anda, a 55-year-old priest who served in the Tijuana Archdiocese for 16 years, was found dead on March 17 in the Colonia Madero neighborhood of Tijuana. The Archdiocese confirmed the discovery in a public statement after Rodríguez de Anda had been reported missing.
Archdiocese Cites Health Conditions, Requests Investigation
In its statement, the Archdiocese of Tijuana noted that Rodríguez de Anda had suffered from hypertension, diabetes, and other serious health complications. The institution asked authorities to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of his death. It also called for discretion from the public and media while the probe is underway.
Rodríguez de Anda served in multiple parishes across the Tijuana Archdiocese during his 16 years of ministry. He also held responsibility for the Archdiocese’s health pastoral care program, which coordinates wellness outreach through local parishes.
Third Tijuana Archdiocese Priest to Die Under Unclear Circumstances Since 2018
His death marks the third time in recent years that a priest from the Tijuana Archdiocese has been found dead under unclear or violent circumstances. In May 2022, Father José Guadalupe Rivas Saldaña, who ran a migrant shelter and served at San Judas Tadeo parish in Tecate (about 30 miles east of Tijuana), was found dead with apparent head injuries. Archbishop Francisco Moreno Barrón demanded at the time that the Baja California FGE (state attorney general’s office) find those responsible.
Before that, in October 2018, the body of Father Ímar Arturo Orta, pastor of St. Louis parish in Tijuana, was found in an abandoned car with several bullet wounds. He had been missing for days before the discovery.
The Archdiocese of Tijuana covers parishes across Baja California’s northwestern corner, including Tijuana, Tecate, Playas de Rosarito, and surrounding communities. Colonia Madero, where Rodríguez de Anda’s body was found, sits in Tijuana’s central urban core east of the Zona Río district.
No suspects have been named in the case, and authorities have not publicly stated whether foul play is suspected. The Archdiocese’s mention of pre-existing health conditions leaves open the possibility of a medical cause of death, but the formal investigation results have not been released. The story was first reported by Punto Norte on March 19, according to Punto Norte.