Suspect charged in killing of Mexican journalist

Prosecutors announced late Thursday that they have charged a man with the killings of a photojournalist and four women in a case that drew attention around the world.

Daniel Pacheco Gutierrez, 41, faces charges of murder, femicide and aggravated robbery in a gang, according to a statement by the city prosecutor.

Earlier in the day, chief prosecutor Rodolfo Rios told the Televisa network that the suspect was one of three men recorded by surveillance cameras Friday leaving the apartment building where the killings occurred. The bodies were found a few hours later by a roommate of two of the victims.

Rios said the man had acknowledged being in the apartment, but the prosecutor wouldn't comment on whether the suspect confessed to any crime. The statement issued late Thursday did not address that issue.

Rios said the suspect had previously served nearly 10 years in prison for rape and causing injuries.

The victims included Ruben Espinosa, a photojournalist who fled the Gulf coast state of Veracruz because of intimidation. He was found shot in the head, his body bound and tortured. The attackers also killed his friend, activist Nadia Vera, and two of her roommates — a 19-year-old aspiring makeup artist and a woman from Colombia — as well as their 40-year-old housekeeper.

On Thursday, Colombia's foreign ministry identified its citizen as Mile Virginia Martin. A statement said the identification was made through the victim's fingerprints.

Authorities have not revealed the identities of the two other female victims.

Rios said investigators had not yet determined the motive in the killings, and added that all lines of investigation remained open, including the possibility it could have been related to Espinosa's work.

Mexico was ranked the 10th deadliest country for the press last year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The Associated Press