Zafar Mawani and Guillermo Hidalgo Ortiz vanished in May after leaving to buy equipment for a family member.
MEXICO CITY — A Chicago couple who disappeared in May while living in Mexico City was found dead among four bodies recovered in the mountains outside the capital, family members and authorities said.
Zafar Padamsee Mawani and Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz had been missing since May 20. The men had moved from Chicago to Mexico City months earlier to help care for Mawani’s mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Their disappearance drew attention in both countries as relatives searched for answers and Mexican prosecutors made arrests tied to the case.
The couple vanished after leaving their home in the southern part of Mexico City to meet people connected to the purchase of a chairlift or similar equipment for Mawani’s mother. Relatives said the men shared their real-time location with a friend before contact stopped. Their phones later went dark, and family members reported unusual bank activity after they disappeared.
Investigators later found four bodies in a mountainous area near La Marquesa, west of Mexico City. Authorities said the search followed information from detainees connected to the disappearance. The remains included Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz, according to family confirmation, though prosecutors continued forensic work to formally document the identities and causes of death.
Mexican authorities have arrested several people in the case, including a former police officer accused in reports of leading a kidnapping and robbery group. Officials also reported recovering items including ammunition, narcotics and a suitcase during the investigation. Authorities have not released a full public account of how the men were killed or whether robbery was the only suspected motive.
The deaths have added to concern over Mexico’s missing-persons crisis. More than 135,000 people are listed as missing nationwide, and families of the disappeared have pressed officials for stronger searches and more resources. The case also drew attention because Mawani was a U.S. citizen and the couple had long ties to Chicago before moving to Mexico.
Relatives described Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz as devoted partners who had relocated to be closer to family. Their search had stretched for weeks before authorities uncovered the bodies. Family members thanked those who helped share information and asked for privacy as they prepared for the next steps in the case.
The investigation remains open. Mexican prosecutors are expected to continue forensic testing, review the roles of those arrested and determine whether more people were involved.
Author note: Last updated June 28, 2026.