Marisela Escobedo may not have known just how right she was when she made the following statement earlier this year; “Until I draw my last breath, I’ll be fighting for justice for my daughter”.
The activist, also known as “Rubi’s Mom”, had been camped outside of the Chihuahua state governor’s office demanding justice for her daughter when she was shot in the head at point-blank range the night of Thursday, December 16th.
Escobedo became a recognized figure in the fight against impunity for murdered women after she investigated her own daughter’s murder and led police to the killer. Her daughter’s ex-boyfriend was arrested, confessed to the killing, and even took police to the place where he burned the remains of Rubí Frayre Escobedo…but his crime went unpunished after judges absolved him on a technicality.
Escobedo launched a campaign to demand justice, often in attention grabbing moves, like marching from Juárez to Chihuahua City wearing only a banner printed with her teenage daughter’s portrait and confronting state officials on camera and in public forums.
She was shot in the head at point blank range last night in front of the state government palace. The murder was caught on tape by security cameras but – as of yet – no arrests have been made.