In Ciudad Juárez, Sharif was known as a rapist with a long history of assaulting women, so it wasn't that difficult to suspect that he was also responsible for the murders that were occurring in the area. In addition to the prosecution and the Chihuahuan government, the people believed that there was a sole perpetrator. This claim reassured the families of the murdered women of the impending justice. The international press focused on the fact that although Sharif did not speak Spanish, he was a foreigner with no family and a history of sexual assault charges. For them, he was the right person to point to as the killer. Hoping to spare himself from prison time, Sharif requested an audience with the media. It would be at this point he would reveal knowledge of the real murderers and despite his scarce Spanish, he conveyed the names of Alejandro and Melchor Máynez to the press.
