In the indigenous municipality of Chenalhó, Chiapas, villagers forced two brothers accused of killing their father to bury him before handing them over to authorities. The victim's body, in a state of decomposition, was found tied and inside a sack after 12 days of disappearance. The incident appears linked to a land dispute.
On Tuesday, December 16, around 3:00 p.m., residents of the Zapatista community of Polhó in Chenalhó, Chiapas, discovered the body of an elderly man in an advanced state of decomposition. The victim was identified as Yovano 'N', known as Don Chus, who had been reported missing for about 12 days. The corpse was found with hands and feet tied, wrapped in a sack, alerting locals passing through the area.
Protection Civil personnel secured the site to preserve evidence and notified traditional and ministerial authorities, opening an investigation file. According to local accounts, the crime is linked to a dispute over land possession in the municipality. Consequently, the community detained two of the deceased's sons as alleged perpetrators.
In a video shared by journalist Carlos Jiménez, the brothers—tied with ropes to prevent escape—are seen carrying their father's body and placing it in a coffin. They then dig a hole and bury it, securing the coffin with a rope. This community action took place before the suspects were handed over to state authorities for further inquiries.
Chenalhó, in the Highlands region of Chiapas, is known for territorial tensions in indigenous communities. This incident highlights the role of local customs in initial justice, though ministerial authorities now lead the probe.
