Mexican suspect was at apartment where 5 slain

Evidence indicated that each of the victims was bound and tortured before being shot in the head, authorities said, adding that the wounds they sustained suggested they had resisted their attackers.

Mexico City’s top prosecutor says a suspect has acknowledged he was in the apartment where four women and a photojournalist were killed last week.

However, activists accuse Veracruz governor Javier Duarte of being behind the murders.

According to Article 19, a press freedom organization, Espinosa’s family members had reported him missing Friday afternoon and “notified the authorities to instigate search protocols”.

Espinosa, 31, grew up in Mexico City but had spent eight years working in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz.

“Ruben’s murder is a clear message to all journalists: there’s nowhere safe to go in Mexico: impunity reigns”, said Felix Marquez (27), a friend and colleague of Espinosa. “Eighty percent of journalists in the state have been co-opted; the remaining 20% of us are at risk for doing our jobs”.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 11 have been killed in Veracruz since 2010.

The murders have sparked widespread protests and worldwide condemnation of the spiralling violence against journalists in Mexico.

“Veracruz is one of the most populous states, about which [the] least is known”.

Espinosa had worked for the newspaper “Proceso”, which has criticized Mexico’s government. His focus was social movements, but he found photographing government crackdowns on protesters proved to be no less unsafe. That was the last time anyone heard from Espinosa.

The Gulf Coast state, rich in coffee and oil, is an important route for migrants heading to the U.S., and cartels who use the port at Veracruz city to move drugs and other contraband. “Ruben really didn’t want to leave”.

After only about a week in Mexico City, Espinosa already missed Xalapa and talked of going back. “He didn’t want to leave his dog, but he felt he had to go for his own safety”, said Marquez. He was traced through fingerprints found inside the apartment.

The five bodies also included that of human rights activist Nadia Vera. Another victim has been unofficially identified as Yesenia Quiroz, an 18-year-old model and student originally from the state of Michoacán.

The IFJ said that it was particularly worrying that this was the first time a journalist fleeing persecution in other states had been murdered in the capital.

Espinosa answered a minute later, saying he stayed at Vera’s apartment. He has accused reporters of being involved in organized crime.

Until now Mexico City had been considered a refuge for journalists forced to flee violence and threats in the rest of the country. “Ruben’s death has made sure of that”. “I am scared, we’re all scared, but I won’t put down my camera”.