You are probably right. He'd just be dead instead.
Why you persist in thinking Mexico officials would treat him rightly and fairly is beyond me. He embarrassed them and possibly cut off a large source of income.
I think there are a lot of folks here that think Mexico is just like the USA only with a different language and a little farther South. 'Tain't so, not by a long, long, way.
Do you really think he would be dead? Come on the publicity that would generate makes that a silly notion, if anything Chapman would probably get his own cell and away from the other inmates.