Wave of violence leaves three women murdered in less than a day in Honduras

Three women were murdered in different violent events that occurred in the departments of Olancho and Cortés, reflecting the insecurity crisis affecting the country and the increase in femicides during 2026.

One of the most shocking cases occurred in Juticalpa, Olancho, where a minor of just 14 years old lost her life after being shot in the head. The victim was identified as Carmen Maribel Rosales.

So far, authorities have not provided details about the motive for the crime or possible suspects linked to the event.

National Police agents conducted the first investigations at the scene while family members and neighbors lamented the violent murder of the teenager. The crime has generated consternation among residents of the area due to the young age of the victim.

Carmen Maribel Rosales, 14 years old, died after being shot in the head in Juticalpa, Olancho. (PHOTO: Proceso Digital) Hours later, another violent event was recorded in Catacamas, always in the department of Olancho. A young woman identified as Lissi Matute, aged 22 years, was shot by armed individuals who entered her home.

The young woman was seriously injured and was rushed to the San Francisco Hospital, where minutes later her death was confirmed due to the severity of the injuries caused by a firearm. Lissi Matute was attacked inside her home in Catacamas and died in a healthcare center.

Meanwhile, in San Pedro Sula, Cortés, the violence left another bloody scene after a mother and her son were shot inside a vehicle in the San Carlos de Sula neighborhood, near the José Trinidad Reyes Institute (JTR).

The victims were identified as Fabio Ismael Sarmiento Padilla, aged 33 years old, and Isadora Padilla Cardona, aged 72. Two other women who were in the vehicle at the time of the attack were also injured. According to preliminary versions, an armed man got out of a vehicle and shot directly at the occupants of the car. Subsequently, the suspect would have stripped another driver of his car to escape the crime scene. The OV-UNAH reports 84 violent deaths of women so far in 2026. (PHOTO: Confidencial HN

Amidst this new wave of violence, the director of the Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (OV-UNAH), Migdonia Ayestas, confirmed that at least 84 women have died violently so far in 2026.

Ayestas warned that many of these crimes are being committed with extreme brutality. “Women are being murdered with cruelty, they are beheaded, burned and suffer sexual violence,” he said. The expert also pointed out that a large part of the attacks are committed by people close to the victims. “It’s the partners, ex-partners and friends who are killing women,” she stated. The OV-UNAH reports 84 violent deaths of women so far in 2026. According to data from the OV-UNAH, during 2025, 265 murders of women were recorded, a figure that could be surpassed this year if the current trend continues. Feminist organizations and human rights defenders have reiterated their concern because around 95% of the cases remain unpunished, a situation they consider one of the main causes of the repetition of these types of crimes. They also urgently called on the Honduran authorities to strengthen investigations, guarantee justice for the victims, and promote public policies focused on the prevention of gender-based violence and the protection of women.