Biography
José Manuel Mireles Valverde (24 October 1958 – 25 November 2020) was a Mexican medical doctor and leader of self-defence groups in Michoacán. He founded and headed the Autodefensas, civilian militias formed to combat the Knights Templar Cartel in the region from 2013 onwards.
Mireles appeared as himself in the 2015 documentary film Cartel Land, directed by Matthew Heineman. The film follows his activities alongside those of an American vigilante group and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. He was also featured in later television productions including Narco Wars (2021).
