New Mexican mayor found decapitated in his car just six days into the job

The severed head of Alejandro Arcos Catalán - described as a man who "always sought peace" - was found on top of a pickup truck with the rest of his body in the passenger seat in Chilpancingo, north-northeast of Acapulco, Mexico

A city mayor has been found decapitated just six days into the job.

Alejandro Arcos Catalán got the role on his third attempt. His severed head was found on top of a pickup truck yesterday (6 Oct) afternoon. The rest of the body was found in the front passenger seat.

He had just become mayor of Chilpancingo, north-northeast of Acapulco, Mexico. His body was found on the road towards nearby Tixtla.

In his first message as mayor, Arcos, 43, said his main commitment was “to ensure peace and security in the municipality”. He said he would achieve this goal “in cooperation with the Mexican Army”. His killers are being sought on suspicion of murder with aggravating factors.

Arcos was elected mayor of Chilpancingo on 2 June by about 1,000 votes. But he only started the role on 30 September. His victory followed two unsuccessful bids for the position, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Arcos was a husband, father, son, and brother. He spent his career in public administration and the social sector. In 1994, he began working as an advocate for vulnerable groups. His wife and family described him as “a man who always sought peace, whose life was dedicated to serving and ensuring the well-being of his community and loved ones”.

His murder happened three days after the fatal shooting of the Chilpancingo City Council general secretary, Francisco Gonzalo Tapia Gutiérrez. Following the killing, Arcos clarified that he had not received any direct threats.

President Alejandro Moreno of the Institutional Revolutionary Party wrote: “They had been in office for less than a week. Young and honest officials who sought progress for their community.”

Violence in Chilpancingo and the state of Guerrero has been increasing in recent years. This is the result of turf wars between groups involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and other crimes. Guerrero is one of the Mexican states most affected by cartel violence due to its strategic location along the Pacific coast.

More than 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have disappeared in Mexico since the government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006. Politicians, particularly at the local level, are frequently victims of violence related to corruption and the multibillion-dollar drug trade.