Mexican cartel boss linked to influencer’s livestreamed murder arrested, officials say

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The alleged leader of aviolent Mexican criminal cellhas been arrested in connection with the assassination of a mayor, while authorities say the case also produced new evidence linking his organization to the livestreamed killing of a 23-year-old influencer.

Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, also known as “El R-1,” was taken into custody during a joint military and law enforcement operation, officials said.

Mexican authorities identified him as the leader of Los Rs, a criminal cell linked to theJalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG.

Officials allege Álvarez Ayala ordered and financed the November 2025 assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.His criminal cell was also linked to the May 2025 killing ofbeauty influencer Valeria Márquez,whose former boyfriend is Álvarez Ayala’s son, according to authorities.

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Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala stands with Mexican special security forces following his arrest.

Mexican special security forces are seen alongside Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala after he was arrested.(SSPC – Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana)

Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced details of the investigation a day after the arrest.

“‘El R-1’ is identified as the main leader of Los Rs, one of the most violent criminal cells linked to the CJNG, with operations in Apatzingán, Uruapan and Morelia,Michoacán, as well as in Jalisco,” García Harfuch said in a statement posted on X.

“This organization is involved in extortion, murders anddrug trafficking, directly affecting producers, business owners and families in the region,” he added.

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Valeria Márquez appears in a video frame.

Mexican authorities say Álvarez Ayala ordered the May 2025 murder of popular beauty influencer Valeria Márquez.(@v___marquez/via Instagram)

At the time, the killing was being investigated as afemicide, a gender-based crime under Mexican law.

Video appeared to show a man entering the salon, asking, “Are you Valeria?” before handing Márquez a gift.

The man then allegedly shot her in the chest and head.Márquez collapsed on camera before another person ended the livestream, the video appeared to show.

García Harfuch said the killing was linked to Francisco, who allegedly threatened Márquez several times after their relationship ended.

“This criminal cell allegedly participated under his orders in coordinating multiple violent acts in the region.Among them is the tragic feminicide of Valeria Márquez, which occurred in May 2025 in Zapopan, Jalisco, a crime linked to Francisco, the victim’s former partner and Ramón Ángel’s son,” García Harfuch said.

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Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, identified as a top CJNG figure, is taken into custody.

Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, a top figure in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as “El R-1,” was taken into custody following a joint military and law enforcement operation.(SSPC – Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana)

“With yesterday’s arrest, we learned that R-1’s son had a romantic relationship with Valeria.He had threatened her on several occasions and everything indicates, and this will be proven, that the son asked his father, R-1, to carry out the feminicide,” he said, according toreports.

Álvarez Ayala is now in custody, while Francisco remains at large.Jalisco authorities have also arrested another man accused of participating in Márquez’s killing.

In addition to Márquez’s killing, Álvarez Ayala is accused of financing and orchestrating the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was shot duringDay of the Dead celebrationsin November 2025.

Manzo had been an outspoken critic of organized crime and worked to root out corruption within the local police force.

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Authorities have arrested 31 people in connection with Manzo’s killing, García Harfuch said.

Álvarez Ayala is being held at the Altiplano maximum-security prison while federal prosecutors pursue charges.Investigations into both killings are ongoing.

TheTreasury Departmentsaid the CJNG was “one of the most powerful cartels in the world” and imposed sanctions on more than 50 individuals and entities in Mexico linked to the organization in July.