A 62-year-old man, identified by the initials J.T.G., was found dead in the holding cells of the Municipal Police of San Martín Peras, Oaxaca, hours after being arrested for alleged administrative offenses during Day of the Dead celebrations. The State Attorney General's Office said it is investigating the other man who shared his cell.
- Arrest and death: The man was booked into the municipal jail for administrative offenses and found lifeless hours later.
- Ongoing investigation: Prosecutors are looking into the cellmate to establish whether he played any part in the events.
- Family allegations: Relatives blamed municipal police for beating the victim severely and named commander Pedro Amador Perea and municipal president Ciriaco Díaz Martínez.
What happened in San Martín Peras
According to municipal authorities, the man was detained for alleged administrative offenses during the Day of the Dead festivities and placed in a cell he shared with another detainee. Hours after he was admitted, he was discovered dead in the same space.
In response, a multidisciplinary team was sent to clarify the circumstances and carry out the corresponding investigative steps. As part of those efforts, the other man who was in the cell is already under scrutiny to determine his possible involvement.
The State Attorney General's Office said the body was handed over to the family, who cooperated so that the forensic medical examiner could perform the required autopsy and establish the cause of death.
Accusations against the municipal police
According to press reports, the man's family accused members of the municipal force of beating him brutally while he was in custody. The same outlet reported that the body was found with multiple injuries.
Relatives also pointed to the municipal police commander, Pedro Amador Perea, and to the municipal administration headed by Ciriaco Díaz Martínez as alleged responsible parties, according to the same source.
Other deaths in Oaxaca holding cells
The San Martín Peras case is not an isolated incident in the state. In September 2025, Andrea Tamara “B” was found dead inside a cell at the Municipal Police station in Salina Cruz after being arrested by officers from that force.
The Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office opened an investigation with a gender perspective and brought ten municipal police officers who were on duty to the offices of the Regional Deputy Prosecutor's Office of the Isthmus to give their initial statements.
A ruling by the Institute of Forensic Services determined the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia by hanging with incomplete suspension. Prosecutors confirmed they analyzed video recordings from cameras inside the station to assess whether there were omissions in monitoring the detainee.
That case in turn revived the case of Flor Abigail Hay Urrutia, 30, who died on August 20, 2022, in the same Salina Cruz holding cells hours after being arrested. Authorities initially attributed her death to suicide, but her father, José Luis Hay, rejected that account and accused police of killing his daughter.
Three independent autopsies concluded she died of asphyxia by hanging, but did not settle the controversy over whether custodians bore direct or indirect responsibility. Four people were arrested, including the civil judge who validated the detention and the force commander.
In 2026, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued recommendation 188/2024, documenting that Abigail was diagnosed with a neurological disorder during her detention but, instead of being referred to specialized medical services, was sent to the holding cells, where she died three hours later. The CNDH also demanded comprehensive reparation for the family and found violations of the right to life, personal integrity and a life free of violence.
The new case in San Martín Peras keeps open the debate over custody conditions in Oaxaca's municipal holding cells and the responsibility of local forces. The Attorney General's Office must determine, based on the autopsy results and ongoing inquiries, whether J.T.G.'s death stemmed from a violent incident between detainees or from excessive use of force by municipal officers—an allegation the family has already raised.