Gregorio Jiménez de la Cruz

Gregorio Jiménez de la Cruz (1972 – February 2014) was a Mexican journalist and photographer. He was murdered in February 2014 in Veracruz, which has been described as the most dangerous state for journalists in Mexico. He was at least the tenth journalist killed in Veracruz since Javier Duarte became governor 38 months earlier. At the time of Jiménez's murder, four additional journalists were missing in the state. He reported on such topics as local abductions and violence toward migrants, and for security reasons sometimes used the pseudonym "The Panther." He investigated the disappearances of people in Coatzacoalcos and kidnappings in Villa Allende. Following his death, Ricardo Gonzalez of the free-press advocacy group Article 19 said that Jiménez' motivation was largely due to the destruction of his community he had witnessed caused by organized crime.

Murder

Disappearance On February 5, 2014, Jiménez was abducted from his home in the Villa Allende district of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, by a group of masked men.

Discovery On February 11, 2014, six days after he disappeared, Jiménez' body was found in a shallow grave in a "safe house" in Las Choapas, Veracruz. Also found in the grave were the remains of his friend Ernesto Ruiz Guillen, a local union leader, and of an unidentified taxi driver. Jiménez had written about Ruiz Guillen's outspoken criticism of organized crime, and had also worked as a photographer at union events under Ruiz Guillen's direction.

Shortly after the bodies were found, police arrested six suspects. Teresa Hernández Cruz, a bar owner and neighbor of Jiménez's in Coatzacoalcos, was considered the principal suspect. The other suspects were Santos Gonzalez Santiago, Jesus Antonio Perez Herrera, Juan Manuel Rodriguez Hernández, Gerardo Contreras Hernández and Jose Luis Marquez Hernández.

Personal life Gregorio "Goyo" Jiménez de la Cruz was 42 at the time of his murder. He was a father of 7 and grandfather of 10.