Former judicial agent arrested for alleged torture of María Luisa Villanueva

The arrest of José Guadalupe “N”, a former judicial agent from the former Procuraduría General de Justicia of Morelos, has provided a potential breakthrough for María Luisa Villanueva Márquez in her decades-long fight for justice.

Villanueva Márquez spent 25 years in prison after being accused of kidnapping. She maintains that in 1998, she was subjected to physical violence, torture, and inhumane treatment by judicial agents to force a confession. Following her imprisonment, she was eventually released in February 2023 through a partial sentence remission benefit.

The Morelos State Attorney General's Office confirmed the apprehension of the former officer in the municipality of Cuautla. He faces charges related to his alleged participation in torture acts committed over two decades ago. Villanueva Márquez stated that the arrest represents “a little bit of justice” and hopes it will provide the evidence necessary to formally prove her innocence and clear her name.