Who Was The Murdered Singer That Refused To Perform At Ovidio Guzman-Lopez's Wedding?

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Recently, as reported by HEARST on Borderland Beat, the US increased sanctions and rewards on the sons of El Chapo, known as Los Chapitos and the Guzman-Lopez brothers of the Sinaloa Cartel. The usual list of drug trafficking, production and violence is included in the announcements. But a previously unknown piece of information was added as well, that Ovidio Guzman Lopez ordered the death of a popular Mexican singer who had refused to sing at his wedding.

Ovidio Guzmán-López is a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel and the son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín Guzmán-Loera. Law enforcement investigations indicate Ovidio and his brother, Joaquín Guzmán-López, function in high-level command and control roles of their own drug trafficking organization, the Guzmán-López Transnational Criminal Organization, under the umbrella of the Sinaloa Cartel. 

Sinaloa Cartel Leaders

The Guzmán-López brothers began their narcotics trafficking careers early by inheriting relationships from their deceased brother, Edgar Guzmán-López. Following Edgar’s death in 2008, Ovidio and Joaquín inherited a great deal of the narcotics proceeds and began investing large amounts of the cash into the purchasing of marijuana in Mexico and cocaine in Colombia. They also began purchasing large amounts of ephedrine from Argentina and arranged for the smuggling of the product into Mexico as they began to experiment with methamphetamine production, producing an estimated 3,000- 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine per month.

Other information indicates that Ovidio Guzmán-López has ordered the murders of informants, a drug trafficker, and a popular Mexican singer who had refused to sing at his wedding. It is believed he is married to his long time partner, Adriana Meza Torres as the couple have been seen in several photos together over the years. 

Adriana Meza Torres and Ovidio Guzman-Lopez

Adriana's father was Raul Meza Ontiveros known as "El M6" who was murdered in 2007. Her uncle is Javier Torres Félix "El JT", another member of the Sinaloa cartel, who had been imprisoned in both the United States and then in Mexico after being deported in 2013.

Brother Raul "El Mini 6" Meza Torres, killed at 18 in 2010.

Raul Meza Ontiveros known as "El M6" in the Sinaloa cartel who was murdered in 2007.

Adriana Meza Torres' exact age is not known but is likely close in age to her late brother, Raul aka "Mini 6", born in 1991 and was killed by police in Jalisco in 2010 when he was 18 years old. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the third son of El Chapo was born on March 29, 1990 and is 31 years old. She is likely younger than Ovidio, but not by much.

The date of the wedding was not disclosed by the authorities, so it may never be known exactly who the Mexican singer was, who was allegedly murdered on the orders of El Chapo’s son.

Likely the wedding would have taken place within the last couple of years as wedding rings haven't been seen in photos of the couple. This includes video of Ovidio's capture during the 'Culiacanazo' on October 17, 2019; where his hands are raised and neither show any rings.

Last year, Ovidio's half-sister, Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán Salazar was married in an extravagant ceremony.

Likely the wedding between him and Adriana was held in private. References to Adriana as his wife go back at least a year to late 2020 so it is possible they wed after the events in Culiacan so the singer who refused to perform is likely to have been killed in recent years.

But unfortunately the list of singers who have been killed is long, between just 2019 and 2021, names include Alex Quintero, Roberto Dominguez Trejo, Néstor Valdez, Julio Verdugo and Luis Mendoza, all singers of regional Mexican music.

Nestor Valdez

On July 19, 2021, Néstor Valdez, lead singer of the band La Acelerada, died in a Mexicali hospital hours after being attacked when he was at a party in San Luis Río Colorado, in the state of Sonora.

Alex Quintero

On April 25, 2021, Alex Quintero singer of narcocorridos, was shot to death when he was at a private party, in the state of Sonora, Mexico.

Julio Verdugo

The shooting occurred on May 9, 2021 when the singer July Executioner (Julio Verdugo), 23, was attacked while driving in Culiacan. Authorities arrived at the site and found the singer dead in the driver's seat. It was detailed that investigating agents found several short weapon casings at the crime scene.

Roberto Dominguez Trejo

On August 14, 2019, the singer and vocalist of the gang of narcocorridos “The Sons of the Cartel“, identified as Roberto Dominguez Trejo was murdered in front of his family at a gas station in Tijuana.

Samuel Barraza Rivas

The night of July 16, 2019 in the parking lot of the Hippodrome Galleries square in Tijuana, Samuel Barraza Rivas was shot to death.

Luis Carlos Mendoza

On July 6, 2019, Luis Carlos Mendoza Garcia and his brother “Ronny“ Mendoza Garcia, who were part of the musical group The Ronaldos, were riddled with more than a hundred bullets in Ciudad Obregón, in the state of Sonora.

Sources American Post Department of State La Verdad Borderland Beat The Guardian El Universal