The suicide of Professor Alberto Israel Jasso Cruz—a teacher at the Mexico City Institute of Upper Secondary Education (IEMS)—reignited the debate regarding the presumption of innocence, the effectiveness of protocols for handling allegations of sexual misconduct, and mental health support for parties involved in legal proceedings.
According to some accounts, the student fell asleep in class, prompting the teacher to wake her up; for this reason, the wretched girl accused him of inappropriate touching, among other things.
Hours before taking his own life, the academic released a video and a document categorically denying the allegation of sexual abuse filed against him on July 14 by a student identified as Ramírez Maya Estrella Jocelin. In his message, he maintained that his decision stemmed from the severe personal, professional, and legal impact caused by the proceedings.
Jasso Cruz—who had a 25-year career at the IEMS and nearly a decade of experience in high schools in the State of Mexico—stated that the complaint regarding alleged inappropriate touching had been filed with the institute’s Legal Department and the Public Prosecutor’s Office; he flatly denied these acts.
According to his account, the accusation arose after he woke the student up when she fell asleep during an inter-semester course—an incident that, he asserted, was misinterpreted.
The teacher sharply criticized the conduct of the justice system and the treatment of the accused:
“I want to make it clear that the decision I am making is not because I am guilty, but quite the opposite. I want this to be understood as an act of defiance, a sacrifice, so that the justice system improves and the presumption of innocence is respected,” he stated in his farewell message, adding that in the face of such pseudo-allegations, the presumption of innocence is effectively nullified, leaving men defenseless. He also issued a warning to his fellow teachers:
“Please, do not get attached to your students; they are not your children, they are not your family—do not form any kind of bond. It is just a job; one of them could cause you to lose everything, even your life.”
Following confirmation of the death, staff and members of the Azcapotzalco campus issued a statement expressing their shock and demanding a review of institutional mechanisms. They noted that the teacher was simultaneously facing an internal administrative proceeding and a criminal investigation—a situation they believed left him vulnerable.
The IEMS community called for an evaluation of mental health support and adjustments to response protocols to ensure both the timely protection of potential victims and strict adherence to due process.
To date, the relevant authorities have not issued a public ruling regarding the prior criminal complaint or the investigative files linked to the case.
