Who is Laura Mojica Romero? Beauty queen arrested for being part of 'kidnappers gang', faces 50 years in jail
A Mexican beauty queen was reportedly arrested on suspicion of being part of a kidnapping gang. The 25-year-old Laura Mojica Romero faces up to 50 years behind bars if she is convicted of the crimes she has been booked on.
Romero, who hails from the city of San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec in Oaxaca, won the Miss Oaxaca regional beauty contest in 2018 and participated in the Miss Mexico competition the following year. In 2020, she took part in the International Queen of Coffee beauty pageant in Colombia, The Sun reported.
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According to the British newspaper, the university graduate — who first shot to prominence after winning Miss Earth Oaxaca 2015 — has made headlines once again, albeit for all the wrong reasons. Mexican prosecutors published mugshots of Romero alongside pictures of the seven other suspects apprehended with her.
Laura is one of three women and five men arrested. She was identified only by her first name in a statement released by investigators in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz and was described as one of “eight alleged members of a criminal organization specializing in kidnap."
According to prosecutors, an elite anti-kidnap squad had been tracking such activities in a bid to ensure there was “no truce for people who cause serious harm to Veracruz.” They added: "The capture of Luis Antonio 'N'; Raúl 'N'; María del Rosario 'N'; Ana Martha 'N'; Laura 'N'; César Enrique 'N'; Diego 'N' and Jossiel 'N' took place in Veracruz when personnel specialized in tackling kidnapping carried out an operation to capture those now linked to this judicial investigation."
"The eight alleged kidnappers have been remanded in custody for two months while the investigation continues," the statement added.
Laura, who is reportedly being held in Huatusco, Veracruz, defined herself as “more than just a pretty face” in an interview in January 2019 after winning Miss Oaxaca. The business studies graduate said one of her priorities in life was to tackle the problem of violence against women.
“We can’t stand idly by, we have to eradicate violence against women, through campaigns and educational talks that make men aware of this issue,” she said. At the time, Laura was reportedly described as being fluent in English and a firebrand in the fight against breast cancer and leukemia.
Earlier this month, we had reported how an armed robber became an online sensation overnight after his mugshot bore a strong resemblance to Harry Styles, leaving One Direction fans stunned. The 21-year-old Jason Sanderlin drew attention on social media after his booking picture showed uncanny similarity to the talented singer and actor.
However, the felon was given away by a large “33” tattooed on his forehead. Also, court records listed Sanderlin's height at 5 feet 4 inches — while Styles' height is 6 ft, according to WTAJ, which first reported on the resemblance.
On January 21, Sanderlin allegedly ordered three people to get on the floor after kicking down the door of an apartment in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Court records alleged he attacked a woman and grabbed her breasts when she tried to resist being zip-tied. He reportedly robbed her of $400 in cash and a stash of marijuana and was subsequently charged with felony counts of robbery, conspiracy, indecent assault, aggravated assault and criminal trespass.