María Guadalupe López Esquivel La Catrina 21-year old leader within the CJNG Cartel
1María Guadalupe López Esquivel, also known as "La Catrina," was a 21-year-old leader within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug cartels. She became widely known both for her role in the cartel and her presence on social media, where she posted photos of herself with weapons.
La Catrina gained notoriety for her involvement in an ambush on police officers in Aguililla, Michoacán, on October 14, 2019, which resulted in the deaths of 13 officers and injuries to several others (9News) (Channel 933). She joined the CJNG in 2017 after becoming involved with one of its leaders, Miguel "M2" Fernández (El Heraldo de México) (Channel 933).
Her life came to a violent end on January 10, 2020, during a confrontation with Mexican National Guards. She was shot in the neck during a raid on a safe house where she and other cartel members were hiding. Despite being airlifted to a hospital, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after (9News) (El Heraldo de México). Her death was recorded on bodycam footage, showing her final moments as she struggled to breathe while being attended to by officers (Channel 933).
La Catrina's rise and fall illustrate the dangerous allure and brutal reality of life within Mexico's drug cartels, as well as the increasing involvement of young individuals in organized crime (El Heraldo de México) (Channel 933).