A 23-year-old woman in Mexico disappeared for several days after using the Chinese ride-hailing app Didi. On Friday (July 12th), authorities found her body in northern Mexico. The Didi driver who picked up the woman has surrendered to the police.
According to Reuters, education student Paola Banuelos left a bar in Mexicali, a city on the US-Mexico border, on Monday morning after using the Didi app to call for a ride. After getting into the car, she never appeared again. Mexicali is adjacent to Calexico, California in the United States.
Local prosecutors stated in a press release that on Thursday, the woman’s body was found in a remote area, showing signs of violence.
The statement added that the Didi driver and the main suspect in the murder case, Sergio Gutierrez, has turned himself in.
Gutierrez told local media that he fled “out of fear” as he and his family received threats.
“People really don’t know what is happening; they have ideas, they make threats,” he told local reporters before surrendering.
China’s largest ride-hailing company Didi did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Banuelos’ death has sparked outrage in Mexico. According to official data, at least two women in Mexico die every day due to gender-related violence, but activists say the actual number is much higher.
Ceci Flores, a leader of a Mexican human rights organization, urged women to be cautious when going out.
Currently, Uber and Didi are the most mainstream choices for ride-hailing apps in the Mexican market, with Cabify and Beat also available for selection.