A children’s clown accused of a drunken sexual assault on a young girl has been burned alive and beaten to death by an angry mob of vigilantes.
Cayetano San Juan, known as El Payaso Soldadín or The Clown Soldier to his fans, had been a favourite at children’s parties and events in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico.
But the 50-year-old clown was reportedly surrounded by a furious mob last week and beaten unconscious after he was accused of groping a schoolgirl.
He was tied up, sprayed with alcohol, set on fire and left for dead in the streets of the town of San Juan Bautista, local media reports.
Witnesses allege San Juan laid on the ground for several hours without receiving any help from emergency responders.
A municipal police officer reportedly responded to the scene and called for medical assistance, but the request was denied because he did not have authorisation from a family member, according to CB Televisión.
The angry vigilantes, who are understood to have attacked San Juan without verifying the allegations against him, also reportedly threatened the officer for trying to help the clown.
San Juan was rescued by his sister and taken to a nearby regional hospital for treatment, but his injuries were too severe for doctors to save him. He was released from the facility and died at his home later that day.
The popular children’s performer was beaten, kicked and lynched by a crowd of vigilantes in the n the El Esfuerzo neighbourhood of Tuxtepec on March 24.
Footage of the attack circulating online shows how the mob of locals, some of whom were masked behind balaclavas, tied San Juan up with rope and then mercilessly kicked and beat him until he became unconscious.
They then poured alcohol on him and lit him on fire. He reportedly suffered burns on his back and shoulders.
San Juan was taken to hospital in critical condition and died from the agonising injuries at his home roughly 10 hours later.
The Papaloapan Basin Regional Deputy Prosecutor’s Office and the State Investigation Agency have opened an investigation into San Juan’s death.
The Mexican Constitution prohibits individuals from taking justice into their own hands and states that crimes committed during a lynching – defined as public execution by a mob without due process – are punishable under federal law.
Police have not confirmed any formal complaint filed against the clown prior to the attack, CB Televisión reports.
The Papaloapan Basin clown community, which confirmed his identity to local media,i is outraged over the attack and demanded a ‘thorough investigation’ to identify those responsible.
Fellow clown Nito Payasito took to social media to condemn the killing, saying: ‘It’s not fair that he hasn’t been given a chance to defend himself.
‘I hope that they will act against those who deprived Soldadín of his life and get punished themselves.’
Payasito also alleged that he shared a similar experience months earlier in which he and his partner were falsely accused of kidnapping a child while performing at a local party.
The pair were ‘detained for more than six hours’ as they were ‘questioned and threatened’, he claimed.
Fortunately, they were able to prove their innocence thanks to the assistance of family and friends. Payasito added: ‘It’s a very difficult and stressful situation.’
San Juan’s loved ones have also said he will be remembered as a ‘respectful person’ and for using his his magic show and comedy to bring ‘smiles to children’ at parties.