The 79-year-old ex-judge was arrested in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, charged with ordering the destruction of vital CCTV footage that is believed to have captured key events leading to the disappearance. More than a decade after the students vanished while attempting to commandeer buses for a protest, the families continue to seek answers, with only three remains recovered and the majority presumed deceased.

The incident has drawn national and international outrage and has been characterized as a state-sponsored crime, as corroborated by a 2022 report from a truth commission. Galeana's arrest comes three years after a warrant was issued for her apprehension, emphasizing the enduring struggle for justice in this tragic case.