Concern grows over American couple who disappeared in Mexico City
Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz and Zafar Padamsee Mawani moved from Chicago to Mexico City and were last seen on May 20
The disappearance of a couple of American citizens in Mexico City has generated concern, while family, friends and authorities continue the search for Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz, 57, and Zafar Padamsee Mawani, 56, whose whereabouts have been unknown since May 20.
The couple had resided in the Mexican capital since October 2025, after moving from Chicago to care for Mawani's mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's, according to the newspaper El País.
According to testimonies from family members, both left their home to meet with people who offered to install an elevator or stairlift to facilitate the woman's mobility.
Hidalgo and Mawani were last seen in the company of alleged contractors related to the installation of the equipment.
Before losing contact, Hidalgo shared his location with a friend, a fact that his acquaintances interpreted as a possible warning sign. Hours later, both of their phones stopped emitting signals and their last registered connection on WhatsApp occurred around 6:20 p.m. on the same day.
Concern increased when relatives detected unusual movements in the couple's bank accounts, according to Telemundo.
Financial institutions reported records of new contacts for money transfers and subsequent withdrawals of funds, operations that occurred after the disappearance.
Close friends have publicly expressed their fear that both have been deprived of their liberty. In statements reported by Chicago media, they indicated that some accounts continued to register financial activity days after the disappearance and that third parties had even been added as beneficiaries.
The authorities of Mexico City issued search files on May 23 and are keeping an investigation open in coordination with security and search authorities. However, relatives have expressed dissatisfaction with the limited official information available about the progress of the case.
The incident has transcended Mexican borders because both missing people had a wide network of friends and family in Chicago, where they lived for decades.
That is why those close to him request the intervention and support of diplomatic authorities from both countries to accelerate the localization efforts.