Miguel Cortés Miranda was born on October 25, 1984, in the Gustavo A. Madero borough of Mexico City. Details about his early upbringing are scarce, but Cortés once claimed that he and his sister were victims of domestic abuse during their childhood. Despite this troubled background, he excelled in academics. He studied to become a bacteriological chemist and parasitologist and eventually graduated from the National School of Biological Sciences at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, a respected scientific institution in Mexico.

After graduation, Cortés found employment in several laboratories across Mexico City. To many people around him, he presented an image of an intelligent and cultured man. He often bragged about his professional credentials and academic achievements, took part in leisure activities like watching films and theater, enjoyed literature, and traveled internationally. His online presence portrayed him as a supporter of animal rights and social causes, including feminism and LGBTQ+ advocacy, which contributed to a public perception of him as polite, progressive, and socially aware.

However, beneath this respectable exterior, Cortés reportedly struggled with personal and psychological issues. He attended therapy sessions for reasons that remain undisclosed, and during one session, he claimed to have once provided lethal substances to a suicidal friend. On social media, he often posted cryptic messages and referenced having obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), though there is no medical confirmation of this diagnosis. Later forensic psychological reviews suggested that Cortés may have exhibited antisocial behavior and potentially necrophilic tendencies. He led a double life—outwardly respectable but internally disturbed, with indicators of violent sexual deviance emerging only after his crimes were exposed.

Miguel Cortés Miranda’s known killing spree spanned over a decade, with his confirmed and suspected murders primarily targeting young and middle-aged women in Mexico City. Many of these victims were acquaintances—former classmates, colleagues, or neighbors—while others were reportedly sex workers or vulnerable individuals like the homeless. A chilling pattern emerged from his social media activity: Cortés often posted poetry and cryptic writings that authorities believe hinted at his crimes.

His earliest confirmed victim was 18-year-old medical student Amairany Roblero González, who disappeared on August 1, 2012, in Iztapalapa. Three years later, on February 7, 2015, 32-year-old Frida Sofía Lima Rivera, also a medical student, vanished in Iztacalco. Both cases remained cold until Cortés’s final and most brutal act led to his arrest.

On April 16, 2024, Cortés broke into the apartment of his downstairs neighbors in the Iztacalco neighborhood. He raped, stabbed, and strangled 17-year-old María José Castillo Calles. Her mother, Cassandra Calles, walked in during the attack and was assaulted as well. Although injured, she survived and called for help, prompting neighbors to detain Cortés until authorities arrived. He was arrested on the scene and transferred to Reclusorio Oriente Prison.

Following his arrest, a search of his apartment uncovered a horrific collection: skeletal remains of at least 20 individuals, five skulls, identification documents, phones, notebooks, and surgical tools. Forensic analysis linked the remains of Roblero and Lima to the evidence, leading to formal indictments for their murders. Several other women were suspected victims, including his ex-girlfriend Claudia Andrea, whose 2019 death had originally been ruled natural. Investigators also reopened cold cases involving other missing women who had last been seen with Cortés.

While in custody, Cortés reportedly bragged to fellow inmates and investigators about having murdered over 30 women. He also taunted the families of his victims by phone and claimed to feel no remorse. His behavior in prison was described as arrogant, and he openly idolized notorious killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Despite his high-risk profile, he was kept in solitary confinement with medication provided by prison medical staff. Surprisingly, he agreed to meet with María Castillo’s mother and lawyer, calmly answering their questions during visitation.

On the morning of April 13, 2025, Cortés was found unresponsive in his cell. He was rushed to the General Hospital of Iztapalapa, where he was declared dead. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, likely triggered by an overdose of prescription medication, worsened by a head injury he sustained falling from his bunk. Because of the suspicious timing—just before his next hearing—authorities launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death. However, no foul play was confirmed, and the investigation into his case was officially closed.