Overview

• Motorists alerted authorities on Sept. 15 to a suspicious bundle near km 9 on the road to Golfo de Santa Clara, where his body was found.
• The remains were wrapped in a blanket and secured with tape, and relatives identified him by distinctive tattoos, including the name “Rafaguita.”
• Local search groups, including Madres Buscadoras de Sonora and Colectivo Buscando, helped locate the body and shared identifying details.
• The Sonora prosecutor’s office opened an investigation and has not released forensic conclusions or named suspects.
• Mercado, a bantamweight with 17 professional bouts, had a fight scheduled for Sept. 27 in Hermosillo.