Yakiri Rubio Released From Jail, Under Authorities’ Protection After Alleged Threats From Rapist

Yakiri Rubio, the 20-year-old Mexico City woman who was charged with manslaughter after killing one of her two rapists in self-defense, was released from jail on Wednesday after 86 days in detention. But Rubio says she has sought the protection of authorities upon her release, telling Animal Politico on Thursday, “I’m frightened for my family and for myself. After all this, one of my aggressors is still out there. I’m going to solicit protection.” And in a radio interview that same day, her lawyer Ana Katiria confirmed that her client’s safety would be ensured by police. “Yakiri is going to be fine,” she said.

Rubio’s family, friends and supporters on social media contributed 70,000 pesos (about $5,320) to cover part of the bail, while senators and lawmakers with the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), the leftist party which governs in Mexico City, matched that sum to secure her release. Public outcry had mounted after details of Rubio’s case were made known. Upon leaving jail, Rubio blamed “machismo” for her months in detention, adding that she wanted the second rapist, who remains at large, “to pay for what he did to me.”

Rubio still faces charges of “excess of legitimate defense” against her aggressor after the Mexico City attorney general’s office downgraded the charges from manslaughter. Authorities say they recovered the body of Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, the principal attacker in the incident, with 16 stab wounds in a downtown hotel. Rubio says she killed Ángel Rodríguez in self-defense after he and a second man who is still at large kidnapped her and forced her into the hotel, where they repeatedly raped her.