The atrocious femicide of Ingrid Escamilla sparks outrage in Mexico

On February 8, it was reported that a man had brutally murdered , flayed, and dismembered his wife in Mexico City . The murder of Ingrid Escamilla is the latest femicide case in a string of brutal crimes against women in Mexico .

Authorities discovered the body after a police officer found the man on the street, covered in blood . The man suddenly confessed his crime and the officer asked the criminal to take him to the crime scene . When they arrived at the apartment located in northern Mexico City, the official found Ingrid’s body , which had been flayed.

The man said he used a kitchen knife to stab the victim at least five times and then removed her skin from the face and to the knees. He then removed some of her organs , which were allegedly found a few blocks from the apartment.

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It later emerged that the self-confessed criminal called his ex-wife and asked her to pick their 15-year old son, who has autism and witnessed the crime, and confessed he had murdered Ingrid .

In a video, police officers can be seen interrogating Érick Francisco, who is covered in blood, who tells how he murdered Ingrid Escamilla after an altercation . He said he dismembered her body because he was afraid and felt shame and didn’t want anyone to find out he had murdered his wife .

Additionally, it was revealed that the victim had filed a police report for domestic violence in 2019 but she later refused to press charges and gave a second chance to her attacker .

Meanwhile, Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the femicide and announced local authorities will request the maximum penalty, 60 years in prison , for the murderer.

On February 10, the victim’s sister said Ingrid was had suffered domestic violence for some time. He often insulted and hit her.

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Some media outlets shared grim pictures of Ingrid’s body, flayed and dismembered . The pictures were leaked by officials from the prosecutor's office.

The use and distribution of the images sparked outrage , as it re-victimizes Ingrid Escamilla and affects her family.

On February 12, a judge ruled the self-confessed murderer must remain in prison while prosecutors investigate the femicide ; however, they will not be able to use the confession tape since it was leaked. The man has been bound over for trial.

In Mexico City, feminist activists are calling women and allies to protest throughout the country, after several media outlets re-victimized Ingrid Escamilla and showed a lack of respect for her and her family after they published leaked photographs that showed her skinned body .

On Friday , several groups of women held protests in several parts of the city demanding justice for Ingrid Escamilla and all the victims of gender violence in Mexico. The groups had banners with messages like "Love neither hurts nor kills" and "We want ourselves alive."

Due to the recent brutal femicides of Abril Pérez , Ingrid Escamilla, and 7-years-old Fátima , to mention some, Mexicans have made a call for everyone to join a memorial at the Angel of the Independence monument to commemorate all the victims of violence against women .

The call was made through social networks with a message asking people to wear black and to bring a candle with the picture of the women who have been victims of femicides so that they will never be forgotten .

The memorial will take place on February 22 at 17:00 at the Angel of the Independence monument .

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