Juan Antonio Vera Carrizal, former deputy of the PRI and presumed intellectual author of the attack on saxophonist María Elena Ríos, is currently hospitalized, thus denying rumors of his death, as spread on social media. The Government of Oaxaca confirmed that Vera Carrizal is under police custody and receiving specialized medical care in a clinic due to his delicate health condition.
In 2023, Vera was charged with attempted femicide and was granted preventive detention. However, on December 2, 2024, he was released by a federal order due to his severe condition, being transferred to Hospital Santa Anita. María Elena Ríos, victim of the acid attack, expressed her discontent upon finding out that Vera Carrizal had been released and accused the authorities of Oaxaca of political deals.
Juan Vera Carrizal's lawyers have requested that the crime of attempted femicide be reclassified as a crime of injury, arguing that the burns suffered by Elena Ríos did not endanger her life, but were merely a second-degree assault. The acid attack left the saxophonist with serious injuries on 80% of her body and face, requiring multiple surgeries.
Previously, it was reported that Vera Carrizal had fainted due to decompensation, which led to his hospitalization for various chronic conditions. Juan Vera, detained as the presumed intellectual author of the acid attack against María Elena Ríos, remains under medical care at the clinic where he is hospitalized.
Amid rumors of his supposed death, the Vera Hernández family clarified that the news was false and that Juan Antonio Vera Carrizal remained seriously ill but stable. Through a statement, the health status of the former deputy was detailed, who faces several health issues diagnosed at Hospital Santa Anita.
