Leyla Monserrat Case: Murdered by Her Friends and Recorded on Video

The case of Leyla Monserrat, a 15-year-old girl murdered in Sonora, has once again generated outrage in Mexico after the sentences against her attackers were revealed: two minors who, despite the brutality of the crime, received punishments considered minimal by the public.

The young woman was the victim of an attack planned by her own friends, in an event that shocked the country not only because of the violence, but also because of the cold-bloodedness with which it was carried out.

Lured with a “Surprise” and Led to Her Death

The crime occurred on September 25, 2025, in the El Desierto ejido in Sonora. Leyla was lured by two teenagers, ages 13 and 15, who led her to believe they had a surprise for her.

The girls immobilized her, blindfolded her, and suffocated her inside a house, while recording the attack with a cell phone. Afterward, they hid her body by burying it in the yard and covering it with lime.

The video of the crime even reached the family, which heightened the emotional impact of the case.

Before the murder, Leyla had already been harassed by her attackers, including being mocked for her skin color and being humiliated on social media.

Days before the crime, their relationship had deteriorated after an argument, which is believed to have triggered the attack.

In April 2026, the perpetrators were sentenced under the juvenile justice system:

The 15-year-old received a sentence of 2 years and 10 months of confinement.

The 13-year-old received less than a year of supervised release.

In addition, they were ordered to pay restitution of just over 5,000 Mexican pesos, an amount that doesn't even cover funeral expenses.

The sentences sparked outrage on social media and among advocacy groups, who consider the punishment disproportionate to the severity of the crime.

Many users and family members are demanding changes to the law so that adolescents who commit crimes of this nature can be tried as adults.