Disappearances on the Rise in Mexico - Mass Grave Discovered in Villagrán, Guanajuato

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat

State authorities confirmed the discovery of a mass grave with 13 corpses in a farm field in Villagrán, Guanajuato yesterday. Once again, Guanajuato is representative of a national trend: homicides are decreasing, but disappearances are increasing.

Local news media reported that ten complete corpses were found, with three partial remains.

During the past López Obrador administration, Guanajuato had the third highest count of mass graves found. The high incidence of mass graves has attracted government focus, and the state now has 39 forensic labs, more than any other state.

Since 2020, five activists for the disappeared have been killed in Guanajuato, more than any other state. Within this same period, 260 mass graves were discovered, the third highest number in Mexico, behind Sonora with 298, and Jalisco with 677. 

 

Like figures for all of Mexico, homicides in Guanajuato state are on the decline, though they still remain at very high levels. In 2025, there were 2,539 homicides, a 19.4% decrease from the 3,151 in 2024.  

Disappearances are on the rise in Mexico, tempering the positive news of declining homicides. During the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador administration, 20 people disappeared every day. During the Claudia Sheinbaum administration, this daily number has risen to 41.

 

Sources: INEGI Servicios periciales 2024, ⁠Causa en Comun Disappearances report, ⁠Periodico Correo, El Universal, Zona Franca,, Marquesina, La Silla Rota, Periodico Correo, Notus