A 34-year-old mother of two bid farewell to her family and set off to the stores one morning, but she never made it back home. Renya Gonazales’ husband, a police officer, immediately launched a search for her, unaware of the shocking discovery that awaited him.
Bruno Portillo, upon unraveling the mystery of his missing wife, and with the help of his colleagues, exposed a chilling chain of crimes committed by a notorious serial killer – a figure no one would have suspected. This sinister individual would frequent nightclubs, targeting unsuspecting victims whom he would lure back to his residence, only to brutally murder them, disassemble their bodies, and consume their flesh.
At the age of 72, Andres Filomeno Mendoza, a respected member of his community and a leader of a local political group, was apprehended after a 20-year reign of terror involving murder and cannibalism. However, his reign came to an abrupt end when he crossed paths with 34-year-old Reyna.
When Bruno visited Mendoza’s home seeking information about his missing wife, the pensioner’s suspicious behavior raised red flags. Upon returning with law enforcement, Bruno was confronted with a gruesome sight – his wife’s dismembered remains on Mendoza’s kitchen table.
Further investigation uncovered the remains of numerous other victims and evidence tied to cold cases of missing women. Dubbed the “Cannibal of Atizapan,” the seemingly affable Mendoza shocked his neighbors as forensic experts uncovered a staggering number of bones and fragments throughout his property.
Mendoza meticulously documented his victims in a notebook, with over 30 names listed. The discovery of bones, fragments, and videotapes of the murders painted a chilling picture of his atrocities. By the following year after his 2021 arrest, the remains of 19 individuals, including 17 women, one child, and one man, were confirmed.
Sentenced to life in prison for Reyna’s murder, Mendoza admitted to consuming parts of his victims’ bodies, particularly targeting those who rejected his advances. His heinous acts included skinning a victim because of her beauty.
