Leftist leader, relatives slain in southern Mexico

Hernandez Acevedo, who also led an independent leftist movement, broke away from Democratic Revolution in 2015 and has been a key supporter of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has led many early presidential polls ahead of the 2018 presidential election. (Photo By Presidencia El Salvador from San Salvador, CC0)

CHILPANCINGO, Mexico — A regional leftist leader was killed and burned along with his wife, 94-year-old mother-in-law and driver, officials in southern Mexico said Sunday.

Guerrero state security official Roberto Alvarez Heredia said Sunday the deaths of 50-year-old Ranferi Hernandez Acevedo and those with him have been “totally confirmed.”

The bodies were found Saturday night along a road in the township of Ahuacuotzingo in a desperately impoverished part of Guerrero disputed by drug gangs. Officials had no immediate suspects.

Hernandez Acevedo was a founding member of Mexico’s main leftist party, Democratic Revolution, and had been the party’s leader for the state. While serving as a state legislator, he fled into exile for a time after clashing with a governor.

Hernandez Acevedo, who also led an independent leftist movement, broke away from Democratic Revolution in 2015 and has been a key supporter of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has led many early presidential polls ahead of the 2018 presidential election.