Chicago Couple Vanishes in Mexico City Amidst Search for Medical Equipment
Mexico City, May 28 – A couple with strong ties to Chicago has disappeared in Mexico City, prompting their family and friends to appeal for intervention from US authorities. Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz, 57, and Zafar Padamsee Mawani, 56, who resided for decades in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, were last seen a week ago in the Tlalpan borough of Mexico City, where they have been living since October of last year.
Circumstances of Disappearance
According to close associates, Ortiz and Mawani vanished on May 20 while managing the purchase of a lift chair for Mawani’s mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. They were reportedly with two alleged local contractors at the time of their disappearance. The couple had been in Mexico City to care for Mawani’s mother.
Friends and family members familiar with the case revealed that Ortiz managed to share his location before his phone was switched off on the night of Wednesday, May 20. Furthermore, withdrawals from the couple’s bank accounts were reported up until Friday, May 22.
Ongoing Investigation and Family’s Plea
Mexican authorities have launched an active investigation into the case. The Attorney General’s Office of Mexico City has issued a report concerning the couple’s disappearance. Meanwhile, friends and family in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, are actively seeking assistance and answers, anxiously awaiting news of Ortiz and Mawani’s whereabouts.
The disappearance of Ortiz and Mawani highlights a broader concern regarding missing persons in Mexico. Recent reports indicate a growing trend of families seeking to use events such as the World Cup to draw attention to the issue of disappearances in the country.
This article was originally reported for broadcast by Telemundo Chicago. Artificial intelligence tools assisted in converting it to the digital version, and a Telemundo Chicago journalist edited the article for publication.
