Politics Health Local 2026-04-09T06:38:17+00:00

Murder of Leyla Monserrat: 'Friends' Deceived and Killed Her

Two teenagers in Sonora lured 15-year-old Leyla Monserrat under the guise of a surprise, strangled her, and recorded the entire act on video. Despite the shocking footage, the judge handed down a lenient sentence, outraging the victim's mother, who is demanding justice.


Murder of Leyla Monserrat: 'Friends' Deceived and Killed Her

Leyla Monserrat, a 15-year-old girl, was summoned by two teenagers in Sonoyta, Sonora, unaware that it was a trick. After weeks of investigations, interviews, and camera reviews, Leyla's body was found in the courtyard of a home in the El Desierto ejido. From that moment on, authorities focused the investigation on the two teenagers, who had been the last to see her. They told her they had a surprise prepared for her; they made her sit down and blindfolded her, and while she was laughing and asking what was happening, they put a rope around her neck until she suffocated. The crime was recorded on a cell phone by the assailants themselves and circulated on social media until Wednesday, April 8. The homicide occurred on September 25, 2025, in the El Desierto ejido, in the municipality of General Plutarco Elías Calles. And in response to the proposal presented by the Public Ministry, an abbreviated trial was held, and the judge simply imposed a sanction, Acuña Griego pointed out in an interview with Radio Fórmula, and emphasized that in Mexico, adolescents cannot be tried as adults. These sanctions outraged Leyla's mother, who believes the punishments do not correspond to the gravity of the crime; therefore, she seeks to appeal the sentences. 'Both participated, both harmed my daughter... here the rights of my daughter and mine were violated... at all times they defended the rights of the murderers.' A reparation for damages of 5,657 pesos was also set. The president of the Supreme Court of Justice of Sonora, Rafael Acuña Griego, explained that it is not possible to imprison the two teenagers responsible for Leyla Monserrat's murder. 'The penalties imposed on minors... from 12 to 14 years of age, cannot include imprisonment.' Once there, they asked her to sit down and blindfolded her to make her believe she would receive the promised surprise. That moment of trust was taken advantage of to attack her. When she did not return home, the young woman's family reported her disappearance the same day. 'I know that one day I will see it all complete,' she said in an interview for the program 'Me lo dijo Adela.' She also assured that from the beginning, she directly accused the 15-year-old, Britani, of her daughter's disappearance. The case was processed under the Comprehensive Juvenile Criminal Justice System, which sets limits on penalties for minors. In March 2026, a judge handed down a sentence: the 15-year-old teenager was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months of internment, while the 13-year-old received less than a year of assisted liberty. 'It is not fair that they cause harm and walk the streets as if nothing happened,' she stated. It was also identified that there were prior conflicts between them, related to alleged harassment due to her skin color. Initially, authorities did not rule out the participation of an adult identified as Martín 'N', alias 'El Kalusha', but to date, no official source has confirmed this hypothesis. The recording of the event, presented as evidence to the case judge and later disseminated on social media, confirmed the mechanics of the crime and became one of the most incriminating pieces of evidence in the case. Leyla Monserrat's mother demands justice; she will appeal the sentences Carmen Becerra, Leyla Monserrat's mother, stated that she did not see the entire leaked video, which shows the two teenagers at the moment of committing the murder. 'It is something very strong, I could not bear to see it, I am not prepared.'

Latest news

See all news