Edwin Juarez Palma
© PHEdwin was killed after being fooled into taking part in an initiation ceremony
Tragic restaurant worker Edwin Juarez Palma, 24, died after being strangled, beaten, and slashed in the neck with a broken bottle.

The horrific crime happened near the regional congress building in Chihuahua in the north of Mexico.

A teenage girl named as 18-year-old student Iveth Lopez is among those being held.

The other two suspects were named as Gustavo Dorantes, 18, and Omar Sanchez, 25.

Police say Edwin, known as Piwa, was killed after being fooled into taking part in an initiation ceremony to become part of a satanic cult called the Sons of Baphomet 1.

Instead he was tortured after having his hands tied behind his back after one of the alleged killers persuaded the others their victim should be sacrificed so he could return to life as a vampire.

Police were alerted last Tuesday after his body was found abandoned in the street wrapped inside two plastic bags in what detectives believe was a botched attempt to pass the murder off as a drugs-related crime.

Officers found traces of the victim's blood inside the cyber cafe, which belongs to the older of the two men being held, after obtaining a search warrant when a protected witness told them how Edwin had been killed.

Murder suspects
© PHThree suspects are being held in connection with the murder
The murder reportedly took place inside the toilets late at night and the killers are said to have used bleach to try to clean up the scene of the crime.

A fourth person described as the leader of the sect is on the run from police.

Police announced the arrests yesterday as they revealed details of the horrific crime.

Police chief Pablo Rocha said: "This crime took place during an initiation ceremony led by a satanic sect called Sons of Baphomet 1 during which the victim was supposed to become a vampire.

"All that's left now to do is to arrest the leader of the sect whose name we have."

Edwin's sister Alicia, writing on social media sites after his funeral, said in a message to friends and relatives: "Don't be sad. I know it hurts that he's no longer with us. He's my brother and we are his family and it hurts us more than anyone.

"But we have something that comforts us. He always had words for us when we felt down, words of encouragement.

"I know as his sister that he wouldn't have wanted us to be sad about his departure."

Staff at the cafe where he worked, Cafe 340 in Chihuahua, placed a black ribbon on the facade as a mark of respect.

One said: "He was an honest person who always tried to keep out of trouble. His interest in vampires was a hobby and nothing more."