Silvia Meraz
| Silvia Meraz Moreno | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1968 Sonora, Mexico |
| Other names | "The Human Sacrifices Sect of Nacozari" |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Killings | |
| Victims | 3 |
Span of killings | 2009–2012 |
| Country | Mexico |
| State(s) | Sonora |
Date apprehended | March 2012 |
Silvia Meraz Moreno (born 1968) is a Mexican serial killer who was active from 2009 to 2012, in Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. Three people were murdered as human sacrifices to Santa Muerte.[1]
Crimes
Motivated by delirious ideas, she orchestrated the murder with the complicity of her family to buy Santa Muerte's favor.[2]
The first victim was Silvia Meraz's friend, Cleotilde Romero Pacheco, a 55-year-old-woman who was found dead in December 2009.[3] Silvia Meraz attacked her with an ax.[4] In June 2010, the cult murdered 10-year-old Martín Ríos Chaparro, the son in law of a sect member. The last murder was the sacrifice of Meraz's grandson, 10-year-old Jesús Octavio Martínez Yánez. The children were beheaded in rituals.[5]
Detention
The cult buried the bodies in the city periphery. The state police discovered the bodies during an unrelated investigation. Later investigations led to the detention of Silvia Meraz Moreno and seven other people, all Meraz relatives, including the husband of Silvia Meraz, her son, father of the last victim and a minor.[6]
References
- ↑ "Children 'sacrificed' to Mexico's cult of Saint Death". The Telegraph (Sonora, Mexico: Telegraph Media Group). 31 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ Hawkins, Kristal (15 August 2013). "Killing in the Name of Santa Muerte". Crime Library. True TV. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ Beyliss, Marcelo (30 March 2012). "Secta de Nacozari se declara culpable de sacrificios" [Sect of Nacozari declared us guilty by sacrifices]. El Universal (in Spanish) (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico: El Universal). Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "Relatos de la Sra. Silvia Meraz Moreno,miembro de la secta "satánica" detenida." [Confessions of Mrs. Silvia Meraz Moreno, "Satanic" sect member arrested.]. CNN (in Spanish) (Sonora, Mexico: CNN). 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "Una familia sacrifica a tres parientes en ofrendas a la Santa Muerte" [A family sacrificed to three relatives in Santa Muerte offering.]. Periodista digítal (in Spanish) (Sonora, Mexico: Periodista digital S.L.). 6 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "Confiesa secta "sacrificios" a la Santa Muerte en Sonora" [Admitted sect "sacrifices" to the Santa Muerte in Sonora]. Proceso (in Spanish) (Sonora, Mexico: Comunicación e Información, S.A. de C.V.). 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2014.