Miss Honduras and Her Sister Murdered

The bodies of Maria Jose Alvarez and her sister, Sofia Trinidad, were found after a man named Plutarco Antonio Ruiz confessed to their murders. Maria Jose, 19, was the reigning Miss Honduras, due to fly to London on November 19th to compete in the Miss World 2014 pageant. Instead of proudly seeing her daughter off at the airport, her mother learned that she had lost two daughters to a man’s jealous rage after spending an entire week clining to the hope that they were still alive.

Many reports say that Ruiz was Sofia’s boyfriend and they were celebrating his birthday at a party when Ruiz became incensed over Sofia dancing with another man. After murdering both women, Ruiz reported them missing.

Claudio Cecilio Munoz, an uncle of the sisters, said Ruiz was not exactly Sofia’s boyfriend but was “courting” her. Ruiz came to the family home the next day, invited them to lunch, and came back several days later to help search for the women. He is now charged with their murder and the police have also arrested a man named Aris Valentin Maldonado as an accomplice in helping to dispose of the bodies.

While the family and friends of the sisters mourn their tragic loss, The Center for Women’s Rights, based in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, has condemning the senseless crime, noting that 328 women have been slain in this Central American nation so far in 2014.

Back in January, The Daily News reported graphically on the rise of “femicide” in Central America and the lack of action on the part of the police. It is only because of Maria Jose Alvarez’ fame as the winner of the Miss Honduras pageant that the murders have received worldwide coverage.