Volunteers in Mexico have made a horrifying discovery in the border city of Reynosa, just across from McAllen, Texas. They have uncovered 27 hacked bodies in clandestine graves, with many of them gruesomely cut into pieces, according to reports on Wednesday.
The bodies found were in varying states of decay, with some so recently buried that tattoos and bits of skin were still identifiable, leading to the identification of four victims by their distraught relatives. However, the majority of the corpses had been dismembered into several parts.
The search was led by Edith González, who heads the group “For the Love of the Disappeared.” She revealed that the clandestine burial site was situated relatively close to the center of Reynosa, approximately 4 miles (7 km) from the border. The grim scene consisted of 16 burial pits, some containing multiple bodies. González suspects that the site might have been used by criminal gangs as recently as a month or two ago, and shockingly, some of the graves were barely covered by 1 1/2 feet of earth.
The prosecutor’s office in Tamaulipas, the border state where Reynosa is located, confirmed the findings, further highlighting the severity of the situation.
Clandestine graves have become a favored method for drug and kidnapping gangs to dispose of their victims in the region. The discovery of these graves was the result of an anonymous tip received by the search group, leading them to a lot near an irrigation canal.
González expressed some hope that people are overcoming their fears and starting to provide tips regarding the locations of these burial sites. However, she admitted that some tips might come from individuals who were previously associated with the gangs and have since distanced themselves.
Such tips have proven to be a double-edged sword for the search groups, comprised mainly of mothers and relatives of Mexico’s vast number of missing persons, which surpass 110,000 individuals.
Recently, an anonymous tip led to a devastating bomb attack orchestrated by a drug cartel in Jalisco state. The cartel used a false report of a mass grave to lure police into a deadly ambush, resulting in the deaths of four police officers and two civilians. As a precautionary measure, authorities in Jalisco temporarily suspended police involvement in searches based on anonymous tips.
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These tragic incidents underscore the risks and challenges faced by those searching for missing loved ones in Mexico, where violence and criminal activities continue to plague the country.
