La Manzanilla de la Paz, Jalisco — Authorities in Jalisco are investigating the death of Blanca Estela Álvarez Chávez, a 43-year-old municipal councilor (regidora) from the Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) party, as a possible femicide. Her body was discovered early on Friday, February 13, 2026, inside her truck on a rural road (brecha) in the municipality of La Manzanilla de la Paz, in southern Jalisco.
Forensic examinations conducted by the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalía General del Estado) confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation. The victim’s body also showed signs of violence, including injuries to her arms—possibly from needle punctures—further supporting the activation of femicide investigation protocols.
The truck exhibited no apparent external damage, and the victim’s personal belongings remained inside, leading authorities to initially rule out robbery as a motive. The vehicle was found abandoned in a dirt track connecting areas near Concepción de Buenos Aires and Teocuitatlán de Corona.
Blanca Estela Álvarez Chávez was a prominent local figure: she served as a councilor in La Manzanilla de la Paz and had run twice as a candidate for municipal president. She was also known as a businesswoman in the tourism sector and was reportedly set to become the local MC coordinator in the near future.
The case has drawn attention amid concerns over violence against public officials and women in politics in Mexico. The Vicefiscalía Regional continues gathering evidence to identify and apprehend those responsible. No arrests have been reported as of February 14, 2026.
This incident marks another instance of violence targeting Movimiento Ciudadano members in recent weeks, heightening calls for protection for local politicians in the region.