2 missing Chicago men found dead outside Mexico City, family confirms
MEXICO CITY — A Chicago couple who had been missing were among several bodies discovered last week on the outskirts of Mexico City, as confirmed by their family on Wednesday.
Zafar Padamese Mawani, a U.S. citizen, and his partner Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz had disappeared in May south of Mexico City. Following several arrests in relation to the case, authorities had been actively searching for the couple.
Subsequently, detainees provided information that led authorities to the discovery of four unidentified bodies in the mountains.
The family of Mawani confirmed on Wednesday that Mexican authorities had verified the deaths of their loved ones, prompting an outpouring of sorrow.
Expressing gratitude for the support received, the family stated, “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.”
Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz split their time between Chicago and Mexico City, according to Cate Taylor, a spokesperson for Mawani’s family. Reports from NBC News Chicago revealed that the couple was in Mexico to care for Mawani’s mother, with unusual financial activity noted in their bank accounts.
The federal government’s official missing-person bulletin stated that Mawani, a 56-year-old U.S. citizen, was accompanied by Hidalgo Ortiz, also 56, when they went missing south of Mexico City.
Mexico currently has over 135,000 missing persons due to criminal violence, with the number continuing to rise despite a decrease in homicides since President Claudia Sheinbaum assumed office in 2024.
The country’s official missing persons registry reported 977 individuals missing in May alone.
Amid Mexico co-hosting the FIFA World Cup, relatives’ groups have staged protests to demand greater attention and resources for searches, often led by family members themselves, with concerns that authorities prioritize cases involving foreigners.
