Judge arrested in Mexico for destroying evidence in missing students case

At the time, Galeana Marín served as the President of the Supreme Court of the State of Guerrero. She stands accused of ordering the destruction of crucial video surveillance footage linked to the students’ disappearance — material considered a key piece of evidence for the investigation. 

On September 26, 2014, 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Teachers' College traveled to the city of Iguala to seize buses, intending to participate in an annual protest in Mexico City. This act provoked a violent response from local police and the criminal group 'Guerreros Unidos' (United Warriors). 

A 2022 report by a truth commission appointed by the Mexican government classified the incident as a crime perpetrated by the state. 

The arrest of Galeana Marín has been hailed by the victims' families and human rights activists as an important step toward justice. The case has once again drawn attention to the persistent issues within Mexico’s judicial system and human rights landscape. 

Investigations remain ongoing, and it is yet to be seen whether Galeana Marín will confess or deny the charges in court. The case continues to underscore the urgent need for reforms in Mexico’s justice and human rights systems.