**Second Beheaded Body Discovered in Tecate**
A man’s decapitated body, in an advanced state of decomposition, was found near a Christian educational institution along the Tecate-Ensenada highway in Tecate, Baja California. The discovery, made by the State Attorney’s Office investigators, took place on February 4, 2025, at around 2:30 PM in the Maclovio Herrera neighborhood. Alongside the body, a large machete with an orange handle and blood stains, a book, and some household items were found, suggesting the man might have been homeless.
This grim find follows a previous discovery on January 26, when the decapitated body of a well-known local seafood vendor, Benancio Mejorado, was found in the Tanamá neighborhood. Mejorado had been abducted from his seafood stall located at kilometer 12.5 of Cerro Azul. His head was later found publicly displayed in the Civic Plaza of Ensenada alongside another head, which authorities suspect might belong to the body discovered this week.
The presence of the machete near the deceased adds to the investigators’ theory that it might have been used in the beheadings. However, the identity of the recent victim is still unknown, as the body had been left amongst rocks for over a week. Just hours before this finding, another body was discovered in the same vicinity, also showing signs of violence and gunshot wounds.
As of now, Tecate has recorded 14 homicides since the beginning of 2025, underscoring the rising violence in the region.
**Additional Report: Rising Violence in Tecate Linked to Drug Cartels**
Recent violence in Tecate has heightened community fears as authorities suspect these brutal acts may be linked to the ongoing conflict between rival drug cartels in the region. The incidents are believed to be part of a larger pattern of violence associated with the route between Tecate and Ensenada, a known transit path for drug traffickers.
Local law enforcement officials are working alongside federal agencies to tackle the surge in crime, although they face significant challenges due to limited resources and the well-armed nature of these criminal groups. The State Attorney’s office is prioritizing these investigations as part of efforts to curb the influence of organized crime and address public safety concerns in the area.