Gil Armando Méndez Grappin, mayor of San Rafael, Veracruz, is under scrutiny for allegedly using his influence to hide his nephew, Ricardo R. S., who is wanted for the feminicide of Andrea Maylín Chino Ramos in Yautepec, Morelos.

According to the feminist group Colectiva Resistencia Feminista Yautepec, Méndez Grappin, affiliated with the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), also reportedly sheltered the parents of the suspect in San Rafael. These parents face charges of complicity and concealment by the Morelos prosecutor’s office.

The collective publicly denounced the mayor on social media, questioning how a public official could act as an accomplice to such a grave crime. They identified Méndez Grappin as a relative of Viola S., mother of Ricardo R. S., and wife of Ricardo R. C.

The parents were arrested on June 17, 2026—Viola S. in San Rafael, Veracruz, and Ricardo R. C. in the State of Mexico. The victim’s father, Juan Carlos Chino Mauricio, confirmed the detentions via social media. The collective emphasized that protecting a murderer is complicity, not parental love.

The case dates back to June 20, 2025, when Andrea Maylín, 22, disappeared after leaving with her boyfriend Ricardo R. S. in Yautepec. He only contacted her family three days later, claiming ignorance of her whereabouts. Andrea’s body was found on July 30, 2025, near Ricardo’s family home, prompting an investigation by the Morelos Attorney General’s Office amid pressure from relatives and feminist groups.

Ricardo R. S. remains at large, allegedly aided by his parents. Despite a search warrant issued in September 2025, only his family members have been detained so far.

The arrests were made possible thanks to the “Ley Monse,” a pioneering law in Morelos that removes legal protections for relatives who shield perpetrators of serious crimes like feminicide. This law was inspired by the 2021 feminicide of Monserrat Bendimes in Veracruz and has since been adopted by Veracruz’s Congress on October 28, 2025.

Given that Méndez Grappin allegedly hid his relatives after this reform, activists like Aruzy Unda from Las Brujas del Mar suggest the mayor could face investigation.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in combating gender-based violence in Mexico and the crucial role of legal reforms and civic activism in holding powerful figures accountable.