Former Judge Arrested for Evidence Tampering in 2014 Student Disappearance Case

A retired judge linked to the infamous 2014 disappearance of 43 student teachers in Mexico has been arrested for allegedly tampering with key evidence in the case, reigniting demands for justice from the victims' families.

Police in Mexico apprehended Lambertina Galeana Marín, a former president of the Superior Tribunal of Justice in Guerrero, under allegations that she ordered the destruction of critical CCTV footage related to the students' abduction. The incident occurred on September 26, 2014, when the students disappeared after attempting to commandeer buses for a protest in Mexico City, a demonstration that local authorities and crime gangs were said to view as a threat.

Marín, now 79, had a warrant out for her arrest for three years before her capture in Chilpancingo. Families of the missing students remain deeply troubled by the lack of closure, as only three of the bodies have been identified, leaving 40 families uncertain about the fate of their loved ones. The students were linked to a teacher training college in Ayotzinapa, where they were known for their activism.

A truth commission formed by the Mexican government in 2022 revealed troubling details about the case, revealing involvement by local and federal police who collaborated with the Guerreros Unidos, a criminal gang, to suppress or eliminate the students. The commission reported that local authorities feared rival gang infiltration in the protest effort, which led to the deployment of roadblocks at various sites, including near the Palace of Justice.

Investigation into the security footage claimed to provide evidence of the events leading up to the students' disappearance shows a disturbing narrative. Palace of Justice employees reported that their security cameras captured the events of that fateful night. However, despite attempts to recover the footage, it was claimed to have gone missing nearly a year later.

Prosecutors allege that Marín's directive resulted in the deletion or destruction of this crucial evidence. The Mexican security ministry has indicated that she will face charges of forced disappearance and conspiracy, as demands for accountability continue to echo through the country regarding this harrowing case that remains unresolved more than a decade later.