Only one disappearance is formally linked to “La Tía” in Baja; collective suspects 6 others
Only one of the seven cases involving missing young people—whom mothers from the *Buscando a Tolano* (Searching for Tolano) collective believe were victims of María de la Luz Damián Andrade (alias “La Tía,” an associate of CJNG member Esmeralda Janeth Fabián Díaz, alias “La Lic”)—is formally linked to the woman also known as “La Abuela” (The Grandmother).
According to members of the collective, the cases of José Gregorio Hernández Castro (29, disappeared August 4, 2025); Abraham Isaac Arredondo Flores (25, disappeared September 12, 2025—a complaint for unlawful deprivation of liberty was filed with the Regional Prosecutor’s Office); Mónica Patricia López Medina (29); Edgar William Sharon Preciado (32); Sadrac Fidel Velarde Zepeda (25); Carlos Abel Trujillo Torres (32)—the latter four having disappeared on October 2, 2025—and Juan Sebastián Domínguez (20, disappeared October 20, 2025) could be linked to “La Tía” or “La Abuela.”
The suspicion stems, according to Bárbara Martínez—president of the search group—from the fact that all the aforementioned young people disappeared in the Eastern Zone of Tijuana (specifically in the Homex, Natura, Delicias, Palma Real, and Ke Casas neighborhoods), an area where María de la Concepción is known to have operated. According to the young men’s mothers, “La Tía’s” *modus operandi* involved offering work to renovate houses she advertised for rent online. However, ZETA has learned that only the disappearances of Juan Sebastián and a 52-year-old man are currently formally linked to the investigation into La Tía.
In addition to Juan Sebastián, the other presumed victim of La Tía is Rogelio Cortés Santander, who was last seen on May 9, 2025, after leaving his home on Támesis Street in the Los Valles Ke Casas subdivision in Tijuana. In both cases, the suspected motive is an alleged “settling of scores.”
As for the other six young men, although sources from the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) confirmed that their disappearances did occur in the aforementioned areas, the investigations have not yet yielded evidence linking La Tía to their disappearances.
Regarding the theory that the seven young men disappeared after being targeted by recruitment-style job offers, sources close to the investigation shared that—in some unspecified cases—a link can be established between María de la Luz Concepción and the victims involving the buying and selling of illicit substances. Nevertheless, the investigations are ongoing.
Regarding the total number of disappearance cases that might be attributed to La Tía, official sources emphasized that work is still underway to compile the case files for the aforementioned incidents. Consequently, “La Abuela” remains in pretrial detention—having been arrested on March 9 of this year in the Los Valles subdivision and formally charged four days later—while investigative efforts continue to clarify the facts and locate the victims. On March 9 of this year, María de la Luz Damián Andrade—alias “La Tía” or “La Abuela” and an alleged member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)—was arrested following the execution of an arrest warrant against her for her alleged involvement in the abduction of Rogelio Cortés Santander, which took place on May 9, 2025. She was captured at a residence on Valle de Eugenia Esquivel Street in the Los Valles neighborhood of Tijuana.
