regina regina september april mexican journalist veteran crime reporter center left mexican news magazine known critical reporting social political establishment born small town state veracruz left hometown study journalism graduating university went work state owned television company early 1980s encountered forms censorship convinced pursue career print media years relocated veracruz worked local newspapers veracruz faced challenges censorship political establishment direct reporting particularly outspoken critic human rights violations government corruption abuse authority depth coverage drug trafficking organizations operate veracruz early morning april murdered inside home severely beaten suspect arrested october publicly confessed murder mexican authorities concluded motive murder theft suspect later retracted confession stated tortured threatened officials lie admit murder investigators relied solely suspect confession dna samples collected murder scene match suspect according sources close magazine journalists press freedom organizations complained irregularities investigation question legitimacy case believe colleague murder campaign intimidation investigate alleged links drug politicians state veracruz early life regina born small town veracruz september parents children young age wanted journalist graduating high school left hometown study journalism shortly graduating moved state work reporter rural state owned television company early 1980s group students hired government work television company demanding better working conditions facing censorship company left company pursue career print media career worked newspapers like years returned home state veracruz editorial assistant news channel journalist left work daily covered topics security social justice journalist investigative crime reporter newspaper career veracruz faced challenges political elite governors government wanted censor criticizing administration instead self like media outlets state known direct reporting style frequently angered authorities wrote reports covering political natural disasters authority abuses human right violations corruption government working local correspondent newspaper state later joined news magazine worked years news magazine known having anti establishment publication style runs articles criticize politicians country reporters threatened past coverage open critic government corruption abuse authority wrote extensively local drug trade organized crime particularly known mexico depth reporting mexican drug corrupted government officials veracruz publications murder political profile politicians running office congress week murder written incident arrested policemen state allegedly working drug trafficking organization arrest high profile leader drug known story involving mayor pan arrested drug following death murdered early morning april home puerto neighborhood capital veracruz police went home investigate response neighbor door open day corpse found bathroom floor according official reports severely beaten face ribs death cause death time death mexican authorities said investigating possible motives assassination including personal motives theft investigate killing work related october new details emerged murder investigation charges brought alias alias men alleged murdered arrested confessed murder according confession reporter knew allowed house night murder conversation grew angry started beating intention forcing reveal hid money valuable possessions joined accomplice beating killed investigators said attackers journalist head toilet bowl hit head times brass threw cracked skull unsuccessfully tried defend grabbing kitchen knife stabbing attackers managed weighed men stole computer camera small box journalist home leaving crime scene investigation arrested october confessed murder investigators authorities veracruz concluded journalist killed robbery placed judge retracted confession stated tortured held hostage week threatened veracruz authorities order confess assassination said officials threatened kill mother remaining family member press conference veracruz authorities relied solely confession evidence references dna blood samples murder scene sources close stated samples collected crime scene match criminals listed national database rule large murder extensive criminal records news magazine immediately took critical stance investigation said believe veracruz authorities capable completing clean investigation believes murder case possibly fabricated likely authorities items stolen house valuable goods left theft real motive murder according mexican law allowed participate investigation appointed journalist cover detail complained veracruz authorities lied possible developments investigation months veracruz authorities stated murder crime passion according reports alleged boyfriend journalist april stated received classified information senior editor covering investigation possible target corrupt veracruz officials reportedly members administration governor allowed carry hostile actions reporter response recent publication case sources close news magazine alleged officials plotting kill reporter nation capital mexico_city veracruz authorities responded stating accusations false asked provide evidence claims governor promised investigate threats journalist went hiding armed month sentenced years months prison murder judge ordered murderer pay roughly usd death stolen possessions expressed doubt murder case trial stating believe court sentencing right man journalists continue dispute facts case believing murder retribution reports drug trafficking political corruption questioned investigation state veracruz magazine reporter said investigators explored possibility journalism motive murder press freedom organizations world complained case designed cover crime instead actually happened don believe authorities said reporter behalf newspaper magazine context background veracruz dangerous place mexico journalists journalists killed governor took office los drug reporters killed unclear circumstances arrests respective investigations given high levels corruption criminal drug related attacks press veracruz local journalists decided leave state relocate parts mexico atmosphere veracruz forced media outlets self censor stop reporting drug violence traditional reporting dangerous intimidating social media outlets reporting crimes state veracruz controlled gulf business handed allies went war northeastern mexico early drug related violence result turf wars drug trafficking organization based western mexico headed mexico wanted drug lord criminal groups fighting veracruz lucrative smuggling routes drug trafficking illegal migrants heading united_states mexico busiest ports officials way inspect containers come ship corruption widespread veracruz investigators slow reluctant link murder organized crime according veracruz general consensus politically corrupt states mexico mexico ruled years lost presidential seat conservative pan long criticized corrupt allowing drug trafficking organizations country operate freely maintained relative peace lost national presidency states remained rule politicians democratic transition reached veracruz state million people governors veracruz continued rule state tactics largely abandoned national level journalists assassinated fifth journalist killed veracruz governor started journalist assassinated march followed son june killed july followed april days death mutilated bodies media professionals discovered journalist murdered veracruz june officially counted death toll journalists journalists kidnapped remained captivity september july november nearly journalists writers kidnapped killed mexico making country dangerous places planet journalist crimes remained perpetrators brought justice june president signed law protection human rights defenders journalists spanish makes attacks journalists federal crime establishes fund investigating crimes law establishes measures protect journalists providing armored vehicles bullet proof security cameras wireless equipment satellite communicate case danger temporary relocation deemed necessary congress passed law june allowed federal government investigate attacks journalists crimes jurisdiction state municipal forces reactions director general said news murders tortured killed week murder regina deeply disturbing reflects state affairs state veracruz crimes committed eve honour vital role played journalists democratic values protecting citizens rights informed calling power account makes situation condemn murders strongest possible terms urge mexican authorities act quickly decisively find responsible option magazine wrote reaction colleague murder murder journalist saturday april result broken country situation daily violence extreme acts exception rule daily april observed moment silence remember proposal mentioned petition year murder circumstances unclear official version government veracruz believed president chamber left comments found proposal relevant invited deputies join minute silence
Regina Martínez Pérez