Additional Coverage:
- Teen girls accused of luring friend into trap before deadly attack and sending video to victim’s mother (themirror.com)
A small town in Sonoyta, Mexico, has been shaken by a heartbreaking and disturbing crime involving two teenage girls and their friend. In a tragic incident that unfolded in September 2025, the 13- and 15-year-old suspects lured 15-year-old Leyla Monserrat Lares Becerra under the pretense of a “surprise.”
Instead, they tied her to a chair, blindfolded her, and ultimately strangled her, all while recording the chilling act on video. The footage was later sent to Leyla’s mother, adding a cruel layer to an already devastating event.
Authorities from the Attorney General’s Office of Sonora revealed that the motive behind the crime was reportedly a romantic rivalry. The suspects later confessed to their actions, and Leyla’s body was discovered in October, showing clear signs of decomposition.
Leyla’s mother, Carmen Becerra, expressed profound grief and outrage, particularly after receiving the video of her daughter’s murder months later. She shared that her daughter had been harassed by the perpetrators prior to the crime, underscoring the cruelty of the situation.
The legal outcome has sparked significant public outcry. In March, the 15-year-old was sentenced to two years and ten months of confinement, while the 13-year-old received only 11 months of supervised release. Many found these sentences shockingly lenient given the severity of the crime.
Chief Justice Rafael Acuña Griego of the Supreme Court of Justice explained that under Mexican law, minors under 16 cannot be tried as adults and face maximum penalties of three years’ confinement. He emphasized that while some may disagree with the sentences, the judges were bound to apply the law as it currently stands. Any changes to the system would require legislative reform.
“This was premeditated; they knew right from wrong,” Carmen Becerra said in an interview, lamenting that her daughter’s killers would soon rejoin society while she never had the chance to say goodbye. Public reactions echoed her sentiments, with many calling for harsher punishments and criticizing the legal system’s limitations in dealing with juvenile offenders in cases of extreme violence.
The tragic loss of Leyla and the subsequent legal proceedings highlight ongoing debates around juvenile justice and the balance between legal frameworks and public demand for accountability in Mexico.