The sister of Spanish student Claudia Tacoronte has publicly demanded justice after the 21-year-old University of Granada student was killed in Cuautla, Mexico, during an academic exchange.

Lara Tacoronte said her sister was attacked after a man allegedly attempted to take her mobile phone, chased her when she ran away and stabbed her several times.

The case has since moved forward in Mexico. Francisco Javier “N”, identified by prosecutors as the probable person responsible, has been arrested and placed under judicial proceedings for alleged femicide. A judge has ordered pre-trial detention and given the prosecution four months to complete its complementary investigation.

Claudia Was in Mexico on a University Exchange

Claudia Tacoronte Aguilera was 21 and studying fourth-year Education Infantil at the University of Granada.

She arrived in Morelos in August to take part in an academic mobility programme with the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos.

Her stay was due to continue into the end of the year.

Attack Took Place in Cuautla

The attack happened on Saturday, September 12, in Cuautla, in the state of Morelos.

According to information presented by the Morelos authorities, Claudia was at the Casa de la Cultura in the Emiliano Zapata neighbourhood, where she had attended a national medicinal-plant festival.

Prosecutors say she went into the open parking area after dinner to smoke and speak on the phone. They allege that a man took her mobile phone and that she was subsequently attacked with a bladed weapon.

Sister Describes the Attack

In a video shared on social media, Lara Tacoronte said an unknown man had attempted to steal her sister's mobile phone.

She said Claudia ran away and that the man followed her before stabbing her in the abdomen several times.

Lara also said Claudia sought help after the attack and questioned why such violence had occurred.

These details form part of the family's account and have not themselves been established by a final court judgment.

Security Footage Helped Identify Suspect

Investigators used security-camera footage and other evidence to identify Francisco Javier “N” as the person suspected of carrying out the attack.

The Morelos prosecutor's office obtained a judicial arrest warrant on September 15 and publicly identified the suspect as Francisco Javier “N”, also known by the nickname “El Trompas”.

Authorities subsequently launched a search operation to locate him.

Suspect Arrested in Cuautla

Francisco Javier “N” was arrested in Cuautla on Thursday, September 17, during an operation involving state and federal security agencies.

His arrest was confirmed by Mexico's Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, as well as the Morelos authorities.

He was subsequently transferred into custody to face the judicial process.

Judge Orders Proceedings for Alleged Femicide

At a hearing on September 18, a judge ordered Francisco Javier “N” to face proceedings for alleged femicide.

The prosecution presented 26 pieces of evidence during the hearing, including testimony from two women whose identities were kept confidential.

The judge also imposed mandatory pre-trial detention and granted four months for the complementary investigation. The deadline for that stage is January 18, 2027.

The judicial decision means the case will continue through the criminal process. It is not a finding of guilt.

Prosecution Links Case to Mobile-Phone Theft

The Morelos prosecutor's office has said the suspected attack was connected to the theft of Claudia's mobile phone.

According to the investigation, the suspect allegedly took the phone before attacking her with a knife.

That account broadly corresponds with the explanation given publicly by Claudia's sister, although responsibility for the killing remains a matter for the judicial process.

Family Travels to Mexico

Claudia's family travelled to Mexico following her death.

Her father, Valentín Tacoronte, visited the Casa de la Cultura in Cuautla on September 18 after the Mexican authorities handed Claudia's body over to the family.

He was accompanied by Spain's consul in Mexico, Marcos Rodríguez, and Mexican officials from the state of Morelos.

University of Granada Responds

Claudia's death prompted a statement of condolence and condemnation from the University of Granada.

The university said its governing team had placed itself at the disposal of the Spanish consular authorities and Claudia's family to provide assistance.

The university also held a minute of silence in her memory.

Lara later said publicly that the family had not received the contact she expected from the university. The university's published statement, however, says it had offered support to the family and consular authorities.

Exchange Programme Suspended

Following Claudia's death, the University of Granada suspended three planned student exchanges with the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos.

The students affected were offered the possibility of being relocated to other universities in Mexico according to their preferences.

The decision was taken while the university reviewed the security situation surrounding the exchange arrangement.

Claudia Remembered at the University

Claudia's death has prompted tributes in Granada and among the academic communities involved in her exchange.

The Faculty of Education identified her as a student in the fourth year of the Degree in Early Childhood Education and expressed its condolences to her family, friends, classmates and teaching staff.

A minute of silence was held across University of Granada facilities on September 14.

Mexican Authorities Continue the Investigation

The judicial process now moves into its complementary investigation phase.

The prosecution has four months to continue gathering evidence and strengthening its case before the next stage of proceedings.

Authorities have already presented witness testimony, forensic material and other evidence during the initial hearing.

A Case Being Investigated as Femicide

From the beginning of the investigation, the Morelos prosecutor's office has classified the case as femicide.

The judge's decision to order proceedings under that charge means the case will continue within Mexico's judicial system under that legal classification.

The classification should not be confused with a final conviction. Francisco Javier “N” remains an accused person while the judicial proceedings continue.

What Happens Next

Francisco Javier “N” will remain in pre-trial detention while the complementary investigation continues.

The current judicial timetable allows four months for that stage, with the deadline set for January 18, 2027.

The prosecution will use the period to continue reviewing evidence and preparing the case for the next stage of proceedings.

Claudia Tacoronte

Claudia Tacoronte Aguilera was a 21-year-old Spanish student from the Canary Islands who was studying Education Infantil at the University of Granada.

She had travelled to Morelos for an academic exchange with the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos and had been in Mexico for only a few weeks when she was killed.

Her family is now seeking justice as the Mexican judicial process continues.