María Elena Ríos went to the Santa Anita Hospital in search of Juan Antonio Vera Carrizal, carrying a poster to speak out and denounce that the former deputy accused of her acid attack was not present. According to a medical document obtained by a local outlet, Vera Carrizal was hospitalized with various diagnoses, including a hemorrhoidectomy and other syndromes, although there were no attachments to support this information.
In 2019, María Elena Ríos was the victim of an acid attack and has been fighting for justice ever since. In 2023, house arrest was granted to Vera Carrizal, but this measure was revoked, and he was charged with attempted femicide against Ríos. In a recent public appearance, Ríos denounced that Vera Carrizal had been released, expressing her frustration over the lack of justice for women in Oaxaca.
During a press conference in Mitla, Oaxaca, Ríos took advantage of the presence of President Claudia Sheinbaum to demand justice and highlight the lack of effective measures in her case. Despite the surgeries she has undergone and the devastating impact of the attack, Ríos has faced obstacles, such as revictimization by authorities and defenders of the accused.
The activist has repeatedly denounced the lack of support and the impunity in her case. In a symbolic act, Ríos surrendered to the apparent victory of the authorities, denouncing that the people surrounding her at that moment were thugs of the Oaxacan governor. Meanwhile, authorities are offering a reward for information leading to the capture of Vera Carrizal, who is currently a fugitive.
