Oaxaca authorities declared saxophonist and activist María Elena Ríos Ortiz and her sister Silvia Ríos Ortiz fugitives after they failed to appear at an initial hearing to face charges for allegedly assaulting Andrea Monserrat Ramos Gómez. The case, which stems from an incident outside a hospital in Oaxaca City in December 2024, marks a stunning reversal for Ríos, once seen as a symbol of feminist resilience in Mexico.

The Control Court of the Central Valleys Judicial Circuit in San Francisco Tanivet, Tlacolula de Matamoros, confirmed that criminal case 713/2025 names the Ríos sisters as defendants. They face charges of qualified injuries, sexual abuse, damages, attempted illegal deprivation of liberty, and discrimination. Court records show the hearing took place on October 16, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. However, neither sister attended, so authorities designated them as fugitives.

Accusations and Missed Hearing

Victim Andrea Monserrat Ramos Gómez has demanded that Oaxaca’s judicial authorities enforce the law and proceed with arrest warrants. Nearly a year after the alleged assault, she says the case remains stalled. “The system that once called them victims is now protecting them,” she told local media.

The confrontation that led to the charges reportedly took place near a hospital, where Monserrat Gómez sustained visible injuries. Video footage shared on social networks appeared to show a scuffle between several individuals, intensifying public scrutiny.

Activists and legal observers note that the case has divided public opinion. Supporters of Ríos, who survived an acid attack in 2019 and became an advocate for survivors of gender violence, view the charges as politically motivated retaliation. Others argue that no individual, regardless of past victimhood, should be shielded from accountability.

Calls for Accountability

Human rights advocate Guadalupe Pacheco Peralta, from the Center for the Defense of Women’s Rights, stated that the sisters face “serious accusations” and urged the court to uphold equal treatment before the law. She cited attempted kidnapping, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority among the alleged offenses.

Ríos has suggested on social media that she was not officially notified of the hearing. Meanwhile, the Oaxaca State Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalía) distanced itself from a leaked document circulating online that purported to show an arrest warrant, calling it “unauthorized and unofficial.”

A Turning Point in a Public Life

Once celebrated for her courage and activism, María Elena Ríos now faces growing legal and reputational challenges. The case shows the tension between public image and judicial process in Mexico’s gender justice movement. As calls for transparency grow louder, Oaxaca’s courts face pressure to handle the proceedings with fairness and impartiality.

For now, both sisters remain at large as authorities prepare the next steps in a case that has already shaken Mexico’s feminist and cultural communities alike.

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