On June 7, 1999, all of Mexico was talking about one thing: the sudden and mysterious death of TV host Paco Stanley.
More than 20 years have passed since that atrocious crime was committed, sparking endless doubts and theories, but to this day, it remains unsolved.
The murder of Paco Stanley, aged 56, was linked to organized crime in Mexico, and even among the suspects were Mario Bezares and Paola Durante, who were his closest collaborators.
Who was Paco Stanley?
Born on July 3, 1942, in Mexico City, Francisco Jorge Stanley Albaitero, better known as Paco Stanley, became one of the most famous television hosts in Mexican TV.
Before this, he graduated with a law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he also specialized in psychology, marketing, and advertising.
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His passion for media led him to work as a radio and television host, where he won the hearts of thousands with his charismatic personality.
But hosting wasn’t his only talent; Paco also excelled in theater.
Paco Stanley as a TV host
It was 1974 when Paco made his television debut on the show “Nuestra gente,” and from there, he only climbed to the top.
He participated in various shows like “Alegrías de mediodía,” “Divertidísimo,” “La mujer ahora,” “El club del hogar,” “La carabina de Ambrosio,” “Ándale,” “Llévatelo,” and also worked on the news program ECO.
Paco Stanley and his relationship with Mario Bezares
In 1995, he was offered a job on the show “¡Pácatelas!,” where he met Mario Bezares, known in the entertainment world as “Mayito.”
However, not everything was successful, as some conflicts arose with the TV station, prompting Paco to seek new opportunities.
In 1998, at another network, Stanley premiered “Una tras otra,” where he once again teamed up with “Mayito.”
After that show, the host participated in the late-night program “Sí hay… y bien…,” which unfortunately lasted only three episodes.
But, back to his relationship with Mario Bezares, it is worth mentioning that it was very controversial, as Paco often made fun of him, ridiculing and even humiliating him in public.
One of the jokes that shocked everyone, and not for being funny, was when Stanley told Mario that his son was actually his own.
In fact, another of the host’s friends, Jorge Gil, pointed out that the relationship between the two was not good, one of the reasons why Mayito became a suspect in the murder.
One of the most remembered moments of this pair is when a supposed bag of suspicious white powder fell out of Mario’s pocket while he danced to “El Gallinazo,” where they pretended to be chickens and fell to the floor.
Mario and Paco were shocked and acted as if nothing had happened, but this event became a clue for suspicions of their involvement with organized crime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AruqYK0VSo4
The day Paco Stanley was murdered
A crowd of people and media gathered outside the restaurant ‘El Charco de las Ranas’, located in Periférico Sur, Mexico City, all staring at the body of Paco Stanley.
On that day of June 7, 1999, Mexican television was draped in black. One of the country’s most well-known hosts had been brutally murdered.
Paco went to the restaurant to have breakfast with Mario Bezares, Jorge Gil, and some of his bodyguards.
According to official versions, Mayito received a call and got up from the table to take it, then went to the bathroom, claiming the food had made him sick.
After a long wait, they went outside to wait for the car while Mario was still in the bathroom when suddenly everything happened.
Armed individuals arrived and opened fire with a machine gun at Paco Stanley, the attack being direct, killing him instantly.
That day, all of Mexico mourned, as he was one of the most beloved celebrities.
Who Killed Paco Stanley
After the news broke, various theories emerged about who was behind Paco Stanley’s terrible murder, with Mario Bezares’ name coming up strongly.
Many pointed out that his suspicious “disappearance” just moments before the crime was sufficient proof to accuse him, and the motive would be his exhaustion from Paco’s humiliations.
‘Who Killed Him’ The Prime Video Series
“¿Quién lo mató?” is the name of the series that portrays the last day in the life of Paco Stanley, the famous Mexican host and actor who was murdered outside the restaurant in southern Mexico City.
The creators of the Prime Video series were inspired by this case, which moved Mexican society during the 90s, to create a miniseries.
Singer Belinda, and actors like Diego Boneta, Roberto Duarte, and Luis Gerardo Méndez play the roles of those involved in Paco Stanley’s murder, the crime that continues to be a topic of conversation in Mexico City due to the way the media covered the case.
The series not only shows how the day Paco Stanley was murdered unfolded but also everything that happened afterward with each of the individuals involved.
However, it is worth noting that the project is not a documentary, but a series that, while showing some things that really happened, also adds a touch of drama to the story.
So… Who do you think killed Paco Stanley?
