Complaints of kidnapping, in its different modalities, have increased during the last two years, according to statistics from the Public Ministry.
The kidnapping and disappearance of the dentist Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo once again placed under discussion one of the crimes that has increased in recent years, with different modalities.
Almost a year after the disappearance of the professional, the case continues in the intermediate stage in the High Risk Court B, while the Public Ministry (MP) exposes more evidence related to the planning of the plagiarism and the vehicles used by those allegedly involved.
However, beyond the criminal investigation, the case also reopened the debate about the physical, emotional and psychological consequences of a kidnapping, as well as the evolution of these criminal structures, analysts say.
Data from the MP’s Prosecutor’s Office against Kidnapping Crime reflects an increase in complaints. During 2024, 157 cases were reported; In 2025 there were 345 and until May 5, 2026 there were 183, that is, this year, an average of 10 complaints were registered each week.
The statistics also show changes in the patterns of kidnappings. Experts, to approach them differently, divide them into express kidnappingswhen the victim is detained for some time and the perpetrators demand not so high amounts of money so that the family can raise the required amount in the shortest possible time.
Another modality, called Drop by Drop or simulated kidnappingsconsists of groups that deceive their victims, make them arrive to desolate places with the promise of buying some product or property and make them believe that they are being extorted by a drug trafficking cartel to demand money in exchange for their release. In this modality, the characteristic is that the victim is not deprived of his freedom, but is controlled by criminals who maintain control over them through the information collected.
Permanent consequences
Helver Beltetón, former deputy director of the National Civil Police (PNC), stated that these types of events are considered among the cruelest crimes due to the permanent impact they cause.
“Kidnapping has been considered one of the crimes that cry blood, not only because of the damage caused to the victim, but also the physical and psychological damage suffered,” Beltetón explained.
The former official pointed out that the consequences suffered by the victims and their families are almost permanent.
“In this case we can say that the damages are not only for the victim as such, but also for the family members who suffer terrible consequences. They even live a whole life and find it difficult to overcome,” he added.
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According to Beltetón, there are cases in which families have had to resort to psychological therapies to face the trauma derived from a kidnapping.
“Let’s imagine the cases where someone’s child or parent is kidnapped. It is something terrible and regrettable,” he said.
Federico Reyes, criminologist and security analyst, indicated that the kidnapping It is one of the most complex crimes due to the combination of violence, uncertainty and emotional pressure.
“What is handled here is anguish and uncertainty. I don’t know if he is alive, I don’t know if they are going to kill him, I don’t know if they are going to release him,” he explained.
He added that these crimes are almost always committed by organized groups seeking money, territorial control or criminal power.
New modalities of kidnapping in Guatemala
Edgar Morales, security analyst and former MP prosecutor, stated that kidnapping has evolved in recent years and now presents new ways of operating.
Morales indicated that express kidnapping is one where victims are forced to withdraw money from ATMs or contact family members to deliver cash.
The former prosecutor pointed out that other modalities linked to criminal structures dedicated to kidnappings gradually grew.
“Many of these criminal models were imported from other South American countries,” he stated.
The analyst added that kidnapping is considered a serious crime because it violates several legal rights at the same time.
“Not only does it affect individual freedom, it also violates life and property,” he said.
He added that in many cases families choose not to report due to fear that the captors will kill the victim.
The Prosecutor’s Office against the Crime of Kidnapping detailed that from January 2024 to May 5, 2026, it has received 688 complaints of kidnapping in its different modalities.
Kidnapping cases by modality:
Classic kidnapping
- 2024- 138
- 2025 – 153
- 2026- 45
Express kidnappings
- 2024 – 12
- 2025 – 129
- 2026 – 61
Drop by drop kidnappings
- 2024 – 7
- 2025 – 66
- 2026- 77
You could also read: Express kidnappings in “pirate” taxis: MP explains that they operate in less than 5 hours and are concentrated in five areas of the capital
The disappearance of the dentist
According to the MP’s investigation, Julio Amílcar Martínez Murillo disappeared on May 28, 2025.
That day he left his home, located in Fraijanes, and was heading towards his clinic in El Jocotillo, Villa Canales, where he used to provide dental consultations.
The investigations establish that before arriving at the place he made a stop at a shopping center located at kilometer 21.7 of the route to El Salvador to buy breakfast.
Video surveillance cameras captured at least three vehicles following him. According to the prosecutor’s hypothesis, one of the cars was driven by Julio Leonardo Alejandro Girón Castañeda, identified by the MP as the alleged leader of the criminal structure.
The authorities maintain that Girón Castañeda had maintained a friendly relationship with Martínez Murillo for more than 12 years.
After leaving the shopping center, the dentist continued his journey towards El Jocotillo. Investigations indicate that it was intercepted at kilometer 36 of that route, in a rarely traveled area.
The last call
One of the most relevant elements of the case is the phone call that Martínez Murillo had with a secretary of the sanatorium he managed in Agua Blanca, Jutiapa.
According to the investigation, the dentist communicated every Wednesday with sanatorium staff to coordinate issues related to medical care.
During that conversation, what authorities consider one of the key moments of the kidnapping occurred. According to the investigations, Martínez Murillo asked a person to move a vehicle that was obstructing the passage. Seconds later, a man began yelling at him and ordered him to continue driving.
“Drive, drive, drive, you son of a bitch…” is heard in the call intercepted by investigators.
The search for family
The alert emerged a few minutes later. The secretary called the dentist’s relatives to report that communication had been violently cut off.
His sister went out to look for him on the route to El Jocotillo and observed Martínez’s pickup going in the opposite direction. According to the investigation, he decided to follow the vehicle and later found it abandoned in an area near the route to San José Pinula, Guatemala.
From that moment, the family began a search and filed a complaint with the authorities.
The kidnappers’ calls
Hours after the kidnapping, the family received the first call from the captors.
The investigators detail that initially they demanded Q5 million. The negotiations lasted for nine days.
In the calls, the kidnappers allowed the victim to speak briefly with his wife to prove that he was still alive.
In one of those audios, presented by the MP during the court hearings, Martínez Murillo begs his family to raise the money.
“Get it my life, get it. Tell your neighbor or your brother-in-law, everyone. I’m going to pay that money one way or another,” the dentist is heard saying.
The Prosecutor’s Office maintains that Carlos Antonio González y González served as a negotiator with the family.
In addition, it points out that Anelsi Adelí Quiñones Corado, who remains a fugitive, coordinated communication between the alleged members of the structure.
The delivery of the ransom
After nine days of negotiation, the family agreed to deliver Q763,000 to the kidnappers; that payment was made on June 5, 2025 at a gas station located at the end of Hincapié Avenue, zone 13 of the capital.
According to investigations, the delivery would be made at 7 p.m. by a trusted person in the family. However, the money was collected until 8:30 p.m.
The authorities detailed that a yellow sedan vehicle arrived at the scene, from which a man wearing a motorcycle helmet got out.
“Excuse me, but this is so the cameras don’t recognize me,” the subject reportedly said before receiving the money in a white plastic bag.
Subsequently, the investigations identified the man as Juan Ubaldo Tzul Castillo, identified as Girón Castañeda’s trusted messenger.
Despite the ransom payment, Martínez Murillo was never released and the MP still continues the search for the dentist.
Captures and judicial process
The MP continued with telephone interceptions, camera analysis and tracking of the suspects.
On August 29 and 30, 2025, the MP and the PNC carried out raids where they captured five people accused of being part of the criminal structure.
Among those arrested is Girón Castañeda, accused of being the alleged ringleader.
Carlos Antonio González y González, Juan Ubaldo Tzul Castillo, Juan Oswaldo Tzul Hernández and Paola Isabel Díaz Ramírez were also captured. While Anelsi Adelí Quiñones Corado remains a fugitive.
Currently, the accused face criminal proceedings for plagiarism or kidnapping.