More than 20 years after the June 7, 1999, murder of Mexican television host Paco Stanley, protected witness Jorge Godoy López has named Carlos Acevedo, known as “El Pato,” as the man who allegedly fired the shots outside the Mexico City restaurant El Charco de las Ranas, according to statements made in a press conference alongside attorney Estefanía Ávila.
Jorge Godoy López stated that the motive behind the assassination was an unfulfilled laundering operation involving a debt of 4 million dollars, which was handed to Stanley to launder and return. According to Godoy López’s declarations, the failure to complete this financial transaction triggered the execution order carried out by Carlos Acevedo. The witness gathered these details while working for United States authorities, but reported that his superiors archived the matter without following up, leaving him to remain silent for decades due to direct threats from organized crime.
Restrictions and Legal Context of the Witness
Godoy López’s ability to come forward was hindered for over two decades due to his status as a protected witness in the case of federal agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Salazar. That legal restriction prevented him from traveling to Mexico until authorities recently lifted the limitation. Attorney Estefanía Ávila explained during the press conference that her client spent more than two decades unable to touch his homeland, noting that while he has no direct involvement in the homicide, he views himself as a key witness in resolving the case despite fearing for his life.
Did You Know? The assassination of Francisco Stanley happened 27 years ago outside the restaurant El Charco de las Ranas in Mexico City, and the case still lacks a definitive, binding sentence.
Parallel Media Release and Public Reactions
The public statements by Godoy López coincide with the release of the docuserie titled Testigos: la verdad tiene voz, created by Juan Carlos Uribe and hosted on the Rellee TV platform. Production representatives stated that the project aims to bring clarity and peace to the Stanley family and the people of Mexico, while offering new perspectives on a crime that heavily targeted Mario Bezares and Paola Durante through media scrutiny years ago.
Both Bezares and Durante were previously detained, subjected to an extended judicial process, and ultimately acquitted without a proven legal link to the murder. Responding to the new documentary and claims, the family of Mario Bezares noted that the justice system spoke years ago through corresponding instances, leaving the public to form its own opinions without the family operating from a place of rancor. Meanwhile, Paola Durante expressed relief over the project, stating that the release helps clear her image and allows her to feel finally free after 27 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was accused of shooting Paco Stanley?
According to protected witness Jorge Godoy López, the man who shot Paco Stanley on June 7, 1999, was Carlos Acevedo, also known as “El Pato.”
What does the witness claim was the motive for the crime?
Jorge Godoy López stated that the motive was a 4 million dollar debt given to Paco Stanley to launder, which was allegedly never completed.
How are Mario Bezares and Paola Durante connected to these recent developments?
Both figures were previously detained and later acquitted of involvement in the 1999 murder, and are featured in a new docuserie examining the case and seeking to clear their names.
How will these new statements from a protected witness influence public perception of Mexico’s most enduring television mystery?
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