Mexico City  - Jorge Velazquez, the security chief of a prison in southern Mexico City, was found dead Tuesday, with a handwritten message on a piece of paper by his side, the authorities said.

The body was found near the jail, next to a message that linked the killing to Velazquez's activity as a prison official.

"We are sending you to hell," the note said, among other things.

The dead man had held his current position for about a month, after holding a similar post at a different prison in northern Mexico City.

Past killings in Mexico in which attackers have left messages have generally been linked to drug gangs. (dpa)