Family of murdered Marisela Escobedo now has lumber business torched

Mike Gallagher

Dec 19, 2010 - 13:12

Dec 19, 2010 - 13:15

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Family of murdered Marisela Escobedo now has lumber business torched

Relatives of a mother who was shot dead after trying to bring her own daughter's killer to justice have now had their family business bued down.

The fire which destroyed the lumber operation in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, was apparently set intentionally, according to the local fire department.

It belonged to the family of Jose Monge, the husband of Marisela Escobedo Ortiz, who waged a two-year battle to get justice for her 17-year-old daughter before she herself was gunned down.

State prosecuters have not received an official complaint about the fire and have not said whether it was believed to be related to Ms Escobedo's death.

Her daughter, Rubi Frayre Escobedo, disappeared in Ciudad Juarez in 2008, and her bued, dismembered remains were found in a bin the following June.

Ms Escobedo launched a campaign pressing for justice in the case, staging numerous marches including one where she went naked, wrapped only in a banner with her daughter's photograph.

The main suspect in the killing, Sergio Barraza, was ordered to be released in April for lack of evidence, and this week Ms Escobedo planted herself in front of the offices of Goveor Cesar Duarte and vowed not to move until investigators showed progress in the case.

Security footage taken on Thursday showed masked men pulling up in a car in front of the goveor's office in the northe city of Chihuahua.

$\"Investigation:$

Investigation: Armed men poured petrol on the lumber factor in Ciudad Juarez before torching the building

$\"Defiant:$

Defiant: Marisela Escobedo breaks down in tears after the men suspected of killing her daughter in 2008 were freed in April

$\"Inspiration:$

Inspiration: Relatives and friends pay their respects to Marisela Escobedo during her funeral at Panteon Cemetery

One appeared to exchange words with Ms Escobedo, who was holding a vigil outside.

She tried to flee by running across the street, but the gunman chased her down and shot her in the head.

Barraza is now the chief suspect in Ms Escobedo's murder, according to Carlos Gonzalez - a spokesman for the attoey general's office in Chihuahua state.

Three judges who ordered Barraza's release have been suspended pending an investigation.

In an interview with the newspaper El Diario last Sunday, Ms Escobedo said she had received death threats from Barraza's family.

$\"Activist:$

Activist: The mother had received death threats after refusing to give up her campaign to get her daughter's killers brought to justice

$\"Protest:$

Protest: Human rights hang posters on the all of the state prosecuters office as the backlash at Ms Escobedo's killing intensifies

Mr Duarte said state security officials had been assigned to guard her during her vigil, although from a distance. He said their failure to protect her would be investigated.

Prosecuters said Barraza, Frayre's live-in boyfriend, admitted murdering her and led police to the body.

But at trial he proclaimed his innocence and claimed he had been tortured into confessing.

The judges ruled in April that prosecuters failed to present material evidence against him.

Drug gang violence has helped make Ciudad Juarez one of the world's most dangerous cities. More than 3,000 people have been killed in the city, home to 1.3million people, this year alone.

In the 1990s, hundreds of women were killed around the city, around 100 of whom were sexually assaulted and dumped in the desert.

$\"Fury:$

Fury: A demonstrator holds a sign which reads: 'We exist! Guarantee the security of women'. Ms Escobedo was chased and shot in the head while holding a vigil for her daughter