Mexican Singer Yrma Lydya's 79-Year-Old Lawyer Husband Shoots Her Dead For Trying To Divorce Him

A 21-year-old singer was allegedly shot dead inside a Mexico City restaurant by her 79-year-old lawyer husband, whom she had been trying to divorce for two months.

Folk artist, Yrma Lydya was eating at Suntory, a Japanese restaurant in the Benito Juárez neighborhood, when her elderly husband, Jesús Hernández allegedly shot her three times while inside a private room last Thursday, June 23.

Police took Hernández and his bodyguard, Benjamin Hernández, into custody at the restaurant as they attempted to flee in a luxury car.

According to reports, Hernandez tried to bribe arresting police officers into letting him go.

The shocking murder came after Lydya approached a Mexico City law firm in April about starting divorce proceedings following a string of domestic violence incidents.

Mexican newspaper Excelsior reported that Lyda had submitted photos of her bruised face as evidence.

Lydya had also filed a police report after Hernández beat her in Dec. 2021, and threatened her with a gun on another occasion.

A witness told Univision news magazine Primer Impacto, that Lyda and Jesús had been arguing just before shots were fired on Thursday evening.

The person said Jesús shot Lydya three times at point-blank range. Twice in the chest and the third to his wife’s head.

A police officer who was at the restaurant heard the gunshots and was able to restrain the lawyer and his bodyguard before they fled.

Lydya was scheduled to perform at Grandiosas 12, in Glendale, California, on Saturday. The show was part of a series of concerts in Mexico and the United States that brings together well-known Central and South American singers.

Jesús and his bodyguard made their initial court appearances on Sunday, June 26, and are being held in pretrial detention at a Mexico City prison while police continue to investigate.

The lawyer pleaded not guilty and told the court he did not kill Lydya. His request to be placed in home confinement due to his age was rejected by the judge.

He is due back in court on Thursday, June 30.