4 Female Students Killed Over 7 Months at the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos in Central Mexico

Author: Maya Mortenson

September 28, 2026

Four female students have been killed in the last seven months at the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos in Central Mexico. The first murder was Kimberly Ramos, an accounting student who was last seen on February 20th. Students of the university engaged in various protests during the 11 days she was missing before the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed her body was found. Another university student was arrested in connection with her death. 

The same day Kimberly’s body was found, Karol Toledo, a nursing student, was abducted. Again, students protested and demanded Karol be found. Hours later, her body was located. No progress has been reported in the investigation into Karol’s death, and no arrests have been made. 

On May 24th, Michelle Itzayana Fuentes Calderón, a high school student, disappeared after her mother said she went out to get art supplies and never came back. Her body was found on June 2nd. There have been no arrests or progress on the investigation into Michelle’s death. 

The fourth was Claudia Tacoronte, an exchange student from Spain studying early childhood education. Claudia was killed on September 12th after she left the opening of the Medicinal Plants Fair at the University, which included workshops and talks about traditional medicine. After the conclusion of the event, she died from stab wounds after someone attempted to steal her cell phone.  

A suspect has been arrested in connection with Claudia’s death, and they have been charged with femicide, which is a crime in which women are killed because of their gender. Claudia’s killing garnered large amounts of international attention, which led the Mexican government to act efficiently and with immediacy, in a way that some point out does not happen with cases involving Mexican nationals.

Violence against women has been a pervasive issue in Mexico. The country ranks 147th out of 181 in the 2025/26 Global Women, Peace and Security Index, placing it among the worst countries for women’s security. There have been more than 9,100 reported femicide cases since 2016, with 382 reported between January and July of this year alone. The state of Morelos had the second-highest rate of femicide during that period. 

There are several factors experts have identified as contributing to high rates of violence against women in Mexico, including high rates of impunity for killing women, gender inequality, and widespread sexism. 

Glossary

Abduction: To seize and take away (a person) by force.

Femicide: Femicide is defined as an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation. It is different from homicide, where the motivation may not be gender-related. 

Gender inequality: The condition in which access to rights, resources, and opportunities is unequally distributed between genders, including men, women, boys, girls, and individuals of other gender identities.

Immediacy: The quality or state of being immediate.

Impunity: Exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss.

Pervasive: Existing in or spreading through every part of something. 

Protest: A solemn declaration of opinion and usually of dissent.

Sexism: prejudice or discrimination based on sex

Sources

• https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-09-15/four-female-students-murdered-in-seven-months-at-the-university-of-morelos-where-claudia-tacoronte-was-studying.html

• https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/21/americas/mexico-femicide-spain-student-latam-intl

• https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/father-murdered-spanish-student-arrives-mexico-after-suspect-detained-2026-09-18/