During the year 2024 and the first two months of 2025, in the State of Mexico, 4,896 people were reported missing, of which 4,614 were found alive, representing a 94.2 percent success rate in searches coordinated among various entities such as the Attorney General's Office of the State, the state government through COBUPEM, municipal search cells, and the collaboration of family members and civil organizations.
Rodrigo Daniel Cárdenas Palencia, head of the Unit for Analysis and Context for the Investigation of Crimes Related to Feminicide, Intentional Homicides, and Disappearances of Girls and Women, highlighted the importance of continuing the investigation after finding a missing person to determine if they were a victim of a crime, especially in cases where they are found lifeless. This analysis includes the identification of causes of death such as accidents, suicides, health conditions, homicides, or feminicides.
The investigation to identify a deceased person is based on the comparison of various physical characteristics and personal markers with data from missing persons reports. In cases of non-visual identification, specialized forensic anthropology, odontology, and genetics assessments are conducted to confirm the person's identity.
It has been identified that 93% of the people found alive stated that their absence was voluntary and not related to crimes, while 235 people were victims of criminal behaviors such as kidnapping or domestic violence. Groups with higher incidence have been detected, with adolescents and individuals aged 30 to 59 being the most affected according to data from the Unit for Analysis and Context.
In the search and location process, six main causes of absence have been established, ranging from vulnerability issues to family conflicts or health problems. It is noteworthy that 65% of the missing persons were found within the first 5 days after the report, highlighting the importance of prompt reporting.
The number of cases compared to other states is high in the State of Mexico, but it is recognized that there are still people unlocated. Technology and immediate reporting have allowed for the expedited search process, increasing the number of missing persons reports. The Attorney General's Office emphasizes the search considering at all times that the missing person is alive until proven otherwise.
The focus on collaboration and coordinated work among various entities has been fundamental to the success in locating missing persons in the State of Mexico.
