Miguel Ángel Beltrán, A Journalist From Durango, Is Murdered; He Had Denounced Organized Crime

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

Miguel Ángel Beltrán was murdered, allegedly by organized crime. 

Originally from Durango, Miguel Ángel Beltrán, a journalist, was found dead on the morning of Saturday, October 25, in the town of Río Chico, on the Durango–Mazatlán highway. His body was found wrapped in a blanket, with a message next to it that warned: "For spreading lies about the people of Durango."

Beltrán, 60, was identified this Sunday, October 26, by his son, who reported that he last saw him last Thursday, when they both left for work, but Miguel hadn’t returned home.

The journalist collaborated with various local media outlets such as Contexto and La Voz de Durango, primarily in sports, although he also covered social issues. During his career, he also served as a spokesperson for the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) in the state.

In recent years, he had moved his work to the digital world, where he maintained a blog and social media accounts. On TikTok, he identified himself as "El Capo" and on Facebook as La Gazzeta Dgo. His most recent published content was reportedly related to an exposé against organized crime.

The murder of Miguel Ángel Beltrán adds to the list of attacks and murders against journalists in Mexico, considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalism.

In November of last year, several journalists who disseminated content through social media, especially on X-rated platforms, were kidnapped. Among them was Javier Llamas, who was later found dead with a similar message next to his body.

According to organizations such as Article 19, multiple attacks against journalists have been documented so far this year, especially in contexts where security issues or local corruption are being investigated.

To date, Durango authorities have not issued an official statement on the case.

Río Chico, Durango

Source: El Financiero