Group of journalists investigated death of colleague in Mexico – 04/12/2023 – New in Folha

In March 2017, Mexican journalist Miroslava Breach Velduce, 54, was shot dead as she left her home to take her 14-year-old son to school. She was known for investigating drug trafficking operations in the country, as well as relationships with political groups.

After the murder, more than 30 journalists formed a secret group to investigate Miroslava Breach’s death. The main objective was to find the culprits and face a culture of impunity regarding the death of journalists in Mexico.

A report by The New Yorker magazine heard members of the group and detailed the work of journalists in the search for answers to this crime.

In one of his reports, alongside colleague Patricia Mayorga, Breach denounced that cartel leaders were nominating candidates for local elections. After the backlash, two candidates were removed from the electoral race.

She published other stories that denounced politicians and cartel leaders and received several death threats.

During the hearings on the case, a reporter recorded everything that was presented in court with her cell phone. This evidence was the starting point for the private investigation by the group of journalists, which was called the March 23 collective, in reference to the date on which Breach was killed.

They maintained anonymity to ensure security. During the investigation, they worked in a secret location and used codes to refer to those being investigated.

One of the members of the group, the American journalist John Gibler, spoke openly with the report of The New Yorker magazine. The Mexican members of the collective had their identities preserved in the article.

In September 2019, the group published three articles. They presented clues that were ignored in the official investigation and other similar crimes that remained unanswered. The collective also investigated the death threats received by Breach. The publications had national and international repercussions.

In the following two years, two involved in the crime were convicted. Other people are still being investigated in connection with the death of Miroslava Breach. Members of the collective consider that the work is not finished until all those involved are convicted.

According to one of the team members, in an interview with The New Yorker magazine, working in a group brings more confidence in delicate investigations. She says she believes that the collective model created by them to carry out this investigation can also be useful in other countries.

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