Father of murdered teen Dafne Zapata on trial for sexual abuse

A court in El Mante, Tamaulipas, resumed the criminal trial on 7 August 2026 against Gabriel Alejandro Z., the father of the late teenager Dafne Zapata. He faces charges of "violación equiparada" for allegedly raping his daughter when she was six years old, a case that has been pending since 2019 and has been delayed by numerous appeals.

Gabriel Alejandro Z. attended the hearing remotely via Zoom, while his ex‑wife Alejandra Quintos appeared in person, reaffirming her commitment to seek justice for her daughter. Quintos criticised the repeated legal maneuvers that have prolonged the process and warned of possible corruption in the local judiciary. The trial proceeds alongside the separate investigation into Dafne’s feminicide at the Doenitz military academy.

The proceedings are being closely followed in Mexico, reflecting broader concerns about gender‑based violence and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.