Five Bodies of Missing Musicians Found Near Texas Border
Authorities confirm the discovery of five bodies believed to belong to members of a Mexican regional music band missing since Sunday.
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico: Five bodies, suspected to be those of missing members of the Mexican regional music band Grupo Fugitivo, have been discovered in the northern city of Reynosa, which is located along the Texas border.
The announcement was made by authorities on Thursday.
The musicians had been reported missing since Sunday while heading to a scheduled performance.
Grupo Fugitivo is known for its engagement in regional music, a genre that includes various styles such as corridos and cumbia.
This genre has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, attracting international attention and incorporating elements from modern styles including trap.
Some musicians within this genre have faced threats from drug cartels, and there have been instances where U.S. visas were revoked on accusations of glorifying criminality amidst the genre's storytelling traditions.
Details regarding the conditions and exact location of the bodies remain sparse, though officials from the Tamaulipas state prosecutor's office confirmed an investigation into the case is ongoing.
The last communication from the musicians to their families occurred on Sunday evening when they informed relatives of their intention to perform.
Following their disappearance, community outrage surged within Tamaulipas, a region historically afflicted by cartel violence.
Families of the missing musicians called for public support, and protests erupted, including a blockade of the international bridge connecting Reynosa and Pharr, Texas.
Demonstrators paid tribute to the missing at a local cathedral on Wednesday, praying for their safe return.
As of Thursday afternoon, state prosecutors have not provided additional updates on the investigation.
Reynosa, adjacent to the United States, has experienced heightened violence since 2017, primarily due to internal conflicts among various criminal organizations contending for control over drug trafficking, human smuggling, and fuel theft.
This situation echoes previous incidents, such as the abduction and subsequent murder of two members from another music group, Los Norteños de Río Bravo, in 2018, whose bodies were later discovered along a federal highway near Reynosa.
The announcement was made by authorities on Thursday.
The musicians had been reported missing since Sunday while heading to a scheduled performance.
Grupo Fugitivo is known for its engagement in regional music, a genre that includes various styles such as corridos and cumbia.
This genre has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, attracting international attention and incorporating elements from modern styles including trap.
Some musicians within this genre have faced threats from drug cartels, and there have been instances where U.S. visas were revoked on accusations of glorifying criminality amidst the genre's storytelling traditions.
Details regarding the conditions and exact location of the bodies remain sparse, though officials from the Tamaulipas state prosecutor's office confirmed an investigation into the case is ongoing.
The last communication from the musicians to their families occurred on Sunday evening when they informed relatives of their intention to perform.
Following their disappearance, community outrage surged within Tamaulipas, a region historically afflicted by cartel violence.
Families of the missing musicians called for public support, and protests erupted, including a blockade of the international bridge connecting Reynosa and Pharr, Texas.
Demonstrators paid tribute to the missing at a local cathedral on Wednesday, praying for their safe return.
As of Thursday afternoon, state prosecutors have not provided additional updates on the investigation.
Reynosa, adjacent to the United States, has experienced heightened violence since 2017, primarily due to internal conflicts among various criminal organizations contending for control over drug trafficking, human smuggling, and fuel theft.
This situation echoes previous incidents, such as the abduction and subsequent murder of two members from another music group, Los Norteños de Río Bravo, in 2018, whose bodies were later discovered along a federal highway near Reynosa.
