UPDATE: Mexican police now believe that the 72 bodies found at a ranch in the border city of Matamoros in Tamauplipas were not drug cartel members but rather kidnapped migrants from Central America. It is believed those 72 individuals paid a “coyote” to bring them into the U.S. and either were kidnapped to extort more money or to provide ransom monies for the drug cartels. The teenager that lead police officials to the ranch has now identified himself as a illegal migrant. It is not known if all were 72 individuals were killed at the some time or at the same site.
ORIGINAL STORY: Mexican authorities were led to a gruesome find at a rural ranch in the border city of Matamoros in Tamaulipas by a gunshot victim found at a security checkpoint in the state. The unidentified teen-age victim notified authorities that he had been shot at the ranch by drug cartel gunmen whereby authorities went to investigate.
The Mexican Navy was dispatched to the ranch and upon arrival was shot at by gunmen while they were attempting to flee in vehicles. Three gunmen were killed as well as one marine. Upon investigation of the site Marines discovered 72 decomposing bodies, 58 men and 14 women. It is assumed that this is yet another dump site for drug cartel rivals, in May 55 bodies were found in Taxco and 51 bodies found in July in Monterrey.
An official statement by the Mexican Navy has not been issued providing more detail on how long the bodies had been at the site or whether any had been identified.
