Abducted Mexican reporter found dead

We issued the following statement today in response to the killing of Mexican reporter Valentín Valdés Espinosa of the Saltillo-based daily Zócalo in the state of Coahuila. Espinosa was abducted by unidentified assailants Thursday and found dead early today, according to press reports…

“The murder of Espinosa follows a pattern of unprecedented violence against the Mexico media that has cost two lives and one disappearance in a three-week period,” said Carlos Lauría, CPJ’s senior program coordinator for the Americas. “Mexican journalists find themselves terrorized by this wave of lethal violence that is barring them from reporting the news. We urge Mexican authorities to put an end to this vicious cycle by vigorously investigating Espinosa’s slaying and bringing those responsible to justice.”