The "Monsters of Ecatepec" is the name given to a serial killing couple Juan Carlos Hernández [1](1985, Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán) and Patricia Martínez[2] (1980, Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán).[3][4] The case also received the names of "The House of Horror"[5] or "The Butchers of Ecatepec".[6] Active in Ecatepec de Morelos, State of Mexico, from 2012 to 2018, the pair are suspected to have committed between 10 and 20 murders, and have also confessed to cannibalizing the bodies of their victims.[7] The pair were apprehended on October 4, 2018, when transporting human remains in a baby stroller.[8]
Juan Carlos Hernández | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, México |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Occupation(s) | Clothing seller and serial killer |
| Years active | 2012–2018 |
| Criminal status | Convicted |
| Spouse | Patricia Martínez (m. 2008) |
| Children | 4 |
| Motive | Sexual compulsion, hatred |
| Criminal charge | Femicide, illegal adoption and illegal inhumation of human remains |
| Details | |
| Victims | 10–20 |
| Country | Mexico |
| State(s) | State of Mexico |
| Location(s) | Ecatepec de Morelos |
Date apprehended | 4 October 2018 |
Patricia Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980 Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Occupation(s) | Clothing seller, housewife and serial killer |
| Years active | 2012–2018 |
| Criminal status | Convicted |
| Spouse | Juan Carlos Hernández (m. 2008) |
| Children | 4 |
| Motive | Sexual compulsion (?), retention of partner |
| Criminal charge | Femicide, illegal adoption and illegal inhumation of human remains |
| Details | |
| Victims | 10–20 |
| Country | Mexico |
| State(s) | State of Mexico |
| Location(s) | Ecatepec de Morelos |
Background
editThey were both born in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, within a five-year age gap. Juan Carlos' mother was a single mother, who allegedly often dressed him as a girl, brought men to her house and forced her son to watch her sexual encounters. Also, he declared that in his childhood, he suffered sexual abuse by another woman who at the time was his caretaker.[9] When he was 10 years old, he fell from the stairs and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.[10] Patricia Martínez was born to a poor family, and was manipulative. She was diagnosed with a borderline intelligence disorder linked to intellectual disability. She was a prostitute at the time.[1]
The couple met in 2008, when Patricia worked as waitress at a restaurant, of which Juan Carlos was a regular client. They initiated a relationship and, although he bragged to be an "assassin", she decided to move with him.[11] The couple had four children during their 10-year relationship. They opened a family business where they sold clothing, perfume and cell phones.[12]
Crimes
editTheir first victim, according to Patricia's declaration, was a 22-year-old woman who Juan Carlos lured with job promises. In their house, Hernández led her to their bathroom where he raped, beheaded and dismembered her. Martínez kept their children outside the house while the murder occurred. After the murder, Martínez partially cooked the body and ate it with her husband.[11] Their second victim was a teen girl who lived next to them, who suffered an inhalants addiction; they allegedly lured her with promises of wealth. Like the first victim she was also raped, beheaded and dismembered in their bathroom. Patricia cooked the victim's body in oil and salt.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b "Prostituta y "subnormal": la novia del Monstruo de Ecatepec" [Prostitute and "subnormal": the Monster of Ecatepec´s girlfriend]. La Silla Rota (in Spanish). 10 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ Excélsior. "'Monstruo de Ecatepec' se comía a sus víctimas en carne asada". El Diario de Juárez (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ "'El Monstruo de Ecatepec' y otros asesinos seriales en México". Milenio (in Spanish). 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ "Los "monstruos" de Ecatepec son originarios de Lázaro Cárdenas" [The "monsters" of Ecatepec are originated from Lázaro Cárdenas]. La Prensa (in Spanish). 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ Sánchez Olmos, Pablo (6 October 2018). "La casa de los horrores mexicana" [The Mexican House of Horror]. ELMUNDO (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ "¡Que nunca salga de la cárcel! Piden en audiencia del "Carnicero de Ecatepec"" [Never free down them from jail! Demanded in Butcher of Ecatepec´s audience]. La Prensa. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ "Mexico serial murder couple claim 20 killings". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ McGrath, Ciaran (2018-10-09). "Serial killer murdered 20 women before feeding remains to pets, court told". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ Gutiérrez González, Rodrigo (9 October 2018). "Así es el "sombrío" Facebook del "Monstruo de Ecatepec"" [The "dark" Facebook page of the "Monster of Ecatepec"]. La Silla Rota (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "El "efecto gatillo" en el "monstruo de Ecatepec" - Proceso". Proceso (in Mexican Spanish). 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ a b c De Mauleón, Héctor (2018-10-15). "El Monstruo y ella" [The Monster and her]. El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ Nájar, Alberto (2018-10-10). "Qué se sabe del "monstruo de Ecatepec" y su pareja, los asesinos seriales de mujeres que vendían los restos de sus víctimas". BBC News Mundo. Retrieved 2018-10-20.