Aleyda Romero, the nanny of the young children of keyboardist Jonathan Meléndez, was one of the victims of the mass murder that occurred on September 1 in Atizapán de Zaragoza. At just 21 years old, she is remembered for her warmth and for having saved the older boy, 6 years old, by advising him to hide.
The attack that claimed the lives of Meléndez, his wife Ana Paola, their three-year-old daughter Sofía, and Romero, took place in the family’s apartment. In the days following the murder, attention focused on the primary victims, but Aleyda, affectionately known as “Alexis,” was overlooked. Many media outlets initially described her as a “housekeeper,” failing to acknowledge her crucial role as a nanny.
Aleyda’s relatives described her as a cheerful and dreamer young woman from San Martín Cuautlalpan. Although she only visited her community once a week, she was very beloved by her neighbors. At her funeral, held on September 3 in Chalco, the family decided to honor her by dressing her body as a virgin, a local tradition for young women who have passed away.
The bodies were taken to the family home, where their loved ones gathered to pay tribute, in an atmosphere that included typical food and music. The young woman was working in the apartment at the time of the attack, and her body was found in a room adjacent to the master bedroom, with a bullet wound in her back, distinct from the injuries suffered by the other three victims.
The musical group Camilo Séptimo, of which Meléndez was the keyboardist, issued a statement expressing their condolences to both families and urging authorities to clarify the events. Aleyda’s relatives demanded that her name be recognized instead of being referred to merely as an employee, reflecting a concern about the media treatment of women in such situations.
On the other hand, the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Mexico has arrested two men in connection with the case, while the investigation into the motive behind the attack, which has been indicated as a result of a family dispute, continues.
Source: www.infobae.com
