Family members confirmed Zafar Mawani and Guillermo Hidalgo Ortiz were among four bodies discovered near La Marquesa.
MEXICO CITY — Two men with ties to Chicago who vanished in May while living in Mexico City have been found dead among four bodies discovered in a wooded area outside the capital, family members and officials said.
Zafar Padamsee Mawani, 56, a U.S. citizen, and his partner, Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz, 56, had been missing since May 20 after leaving their home in southern Mexico City. Their deaths ended a weeks-long search that drew attention in Mexico and Chicago as authorities pursued suspects linked to an alleged kidnapping and robbery group.
The couple had moved from Chicago to Mexico City in October to help care for Mawani’s mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, relatives said. They disappeared after reportedly leaving to buy or arrange equipment for her care. Family members said the men had shared their location with a friend before contact stopped. Their phones later went dark, and relatives became alarmed after reports of unusual bank activity. Mawani’s family said Mexican authorities later notified them that the men had been identified among bodies found outside the city.
Authorities found the remains June 17 in a wooded and mountainous area near La Marquesa, outside Mexico City. Investigators were led to the site after arrests in the case, according to reports citing Mexican officials. Four bodies were recovered. Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz were later identified by relatives, while official forensic work continued on the other victims. Officials have not publicly released a full account of how the men died, and some details about the final hours before their disappearance remain unknown.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the case, including a former police officer accused of leading a kidnapping and robbery group. Authorities said they recovered ammunition, narcotics and other evidence during the arrests. The investigation involves Mexico City prosecutors, State of Mexico prosecutors and security agencies. U.S. officials have said they are aware of the case and are monitoring developments involving the American citizen.
The case comes as Mexico faces a wider missing-person crisis. Federal figures cited in recent reports show more than 135,000 people listed as missing across the country. Families of missing people have pressed authorities for faster searches, stronger forensic work and more answers in cases that often remain unresolved for years. The discovery near La Marquesa added to those concerns while also drawing notice because the victims had recently moved from the United States.
Relatives and friends described Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz as devoted family members who had built lives in Chicago before relocating to Mexico. Loved ones said the men were focused on helping Mawani’s mother when they disappeared. Family members thanked supporters who shared information during the search and asked for privacy as authorities continued the investigation.
Investigators have not announced final charges for all suspects or a complete identification of all four bodies. The case remains active as forensic testing continues and prosecutors review evidence gathered after the arrests.