The femicide of Carolina Flores Gómez—a 27-year-old former beauty queen—which occurred on April 15 inside an apartment in Polanco, sparked outrage across Mexico City. It has joined a growing list of recent cases—such as that of Edith Guadalupe—that have similarly triggered widespread demands for justice.
The circulation of a video, which captured the moments immediately preceding the attack and strongly implicates her mother-in-law as the perpetrator, has intensified scrutiny surrounding the case. Days after the crime, the investigation remains open, unfolding amidst conflicting accounts, a delayed police report, and mounting questions regarding the authorities’ handling of the matter. Here is what is known about the case as of today.
On the night of Wednesday, April 15, Carolina Flores was at her home alongside her husband, Alejandro Sánchez; their eight-month-old daughter; and her mother-in-law, Erika María Herrera.
Footage from a home surveillance camera captured the moments leading up to the murder. In the video—which was made public this Wednesday—the two women can be seen inside the residence exchanging a few words.
The footage then shows the victim heading toward a room, followed closely by her mother-in-law. Just out of the camera’s frame, a gunshot is heard, followed by a scream from the former beauty queen, before five additional gunshots ring out.
