Alex Serna, an environmental activist from Mexico who made use of his social media account to point out any possible environmental damage in his native area, has been found dead almost two weeks after his disappearance. The victim, a 39-year-old man, had been tortured before being found in a blue plastic container by the side of a major highway in the state of Guerrero, which is known to be the most unstable in Mexico.
The man was identified as Manuel Alejandro Moreno Serna, who went missing on June 20, 2026, the very day when he uploaded a video on Facebook accusing a company specializing in mango dehydration and which operates in La Saladita of lacking all the necessary permits to operate as well as damaging the environment through its operations.
“I had received threats before,”
Serna had shared in earlier posts, according to reports from outlets like Infobae. Months prior, he published screenshots of Facebook messages warning him to stop his reporting. One message read:
“Ya te traemos en la mira mejor bájale de huevos”
Roughly translating to
“We have you in our sights, better back off.”
Another stated:
“No estamos jugando ya tenemos tu ubicación y todo” “We’re not playing, we already have your location and everything.”
Working from his home in the coastal city of Zihuatanejo, in the state of Guerrero, Serna became a citizen journalist, investigating and publishing reports aboutillegal land deals, unauthorized building works, water shortages, and even corruption that affected ordinary people. In his reports, he highlighted the impact on the local community, wetlands, rivers, and beaches of the private enterprises that used their resources.
In his last video, Serna spoke about the company called Sunsets Tropicales de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which owns a mango dehydration factory. Serna accused the company of operating illegally since 2017, despite SEMARNAT’s requirements for obtaining the environmental license and the National Water Commission’s concessions. According to him, the company used toxic chemicals, secret pipes, and contaminated the groundwater and soil. He also noted that the company’s priority was to sell its products abroad, for instance, in Canada, the United States, and Japan, while ignoring the local market’s needs. However, the accusations remained unproven since the government has not confirmed them.
Search efforts intensified in the days following his disappearance. The Guerrero State Search Commission opened a file under folio 346-2026. His body was located in Petatlán municipality near the Acapulco-Zihuatanejo federal highway, around late June or early July. Relatives identified the remains after forensic examination in Zihuatanejo around July 6.
The Human Rights Commission of the State of Guerrero confirmed his death and called for an extensive investigation. Local prosecutors are currently conducting a homicide inquiry, but no suspects have been officially identified, and the specific cause of death is still under analysis. Local media outlets reported that he had suffered torture, but this information has yet to be officially verified.
His assassination is part of a growing list of murders of environmentalists and independent journalists in Mexico. According to the Mexican Center for Environmental Law, 314 aggressions were registered nationwide in 2025, 10 of which resulted in murders related to water, mega-projects, and forests. In Guerrero, attacks on environmental activists are considered one of the most dangerous, with the state being under the constant pressure of corporations and criminal organizations.
Activists and organizations like Article 19 have condemned the killing and pushed for stronger protections. Public reaction included social media campaigns and calls for intervention from Mexican authorities. The company accused in Serna’s video has not issued a public response in available reports.
This incident has contributed to a series of issues involving press freedom and environmental activism in Mexico. As investigation continues, it becomes apparent that there are doubts regarding the relationship between Serna’s job and what happened to him. While some people are waiting for a quick resolution, it is also believed that this incident will be added to a list of incidents without any conclusion.
One thing that is certain at this time is that a local activist who raised awareness about the issues in the area has been killed. Details regarding the circumstances of his death continue to be investigated, and all possible information must be pursued.
