Mexico City, August 3 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Ruben Espinosa is one of over 100 journalists killed in Mexico during the past 15 years, according to official figures by the attorney general’s office, which show 25 others are missing.

The attorney general reported in February that 103 journalists had died since 2000, with the northern states of Chihuahua and Veracruz topping the list as the most deadly, with 16 journalist deaths each.

Espinosa had fled the southeastern state of Veracruz, fearing for his life, after receiving death threats from the government of state Governor Javier Duarte.

Duarte sent a strong message to journalists in his state in July, during a public event to commemorate the Free Speech Week, when he told them, “Please behave, I beg you. It's for your own good.”

Since Duarte took office in 2011, four journalists have been killed while five remain disappeared. The attorney general's office said that since Governor Duarte took office in 2011, journalism-related deaths have been steadily increasing.

The Espinosa's death and along with four women have sparked protests. The National Human Rights Commission is investigating.

Mexico is the second most dangerous country to be a journalist — more than Syria, which has experienced 79 journalist deaths. Iraq remains in first place, with about 179 journalists killed since 1992.