Mexican investigators say they have identified the man suspected of fatally stabbing Claudia Tacoronte, a 21-year-old Spanish student, in the state of Morelos, located south of Mexico City. Newly released surveillance footage shows the suspect, who goes by the alias “El Trompas” (roughly, “Big Lips” or “Snout” in Mexican slang), fleeing the scene after the attack.
According to authorities, the assault appears to have been a robbery attempt targeting Tacoronte’s cell phone that turned deadly. The case has drawn national attention in both Mexico and Spain, prompting Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to publicly extend her condolences to the young woman’s grieving family.
Prosecutors have announced plans to seek a 70-year prison sentence for the suspect once he is formally charged and brought to trial, signaling the severity with which officials are treating the crime. Tacoronte’s remains have since been repatriated and handed over to her family in Spain for burial.
The killing has reignited concerns about safety for foreign students and travelers in parts of Mexico, even as authorities stress that an arrest and identification represent progress toward justice for the victim’s loved ones.
To see the surveillance video and follow further developments in this case, check out the original report from Telemundo.
Source: Autoridades de México identifican al presunto asesino de una estudiante española (telemundo.com).
Image: Yixin Zhao; Jian Chen; Xiaoming Xu; Wenfei Wang, BY-SA 4.0 (via Openverse).