Searchers Find 38 Bodies in Sonora Killing Fields

All-female search group seeks closure for families

Sonora Newspaper El Imparcial reports that in three outings that started on March 30, a group of female cadaver searchers calling themselves “Guerreras Buscadoras de Sonora” (Women Warrior Searchers of Sonora) has located the remains of 38 people in fields near Ciudad Obregon.

The group uses basic tools like poles and shovels as they scour open fields looking for clues. And in addition to their somewhat primitive tools they also utilize their human senses of sight and smell, and a sixth sense of intuition.

Group leader María Teresa Valadez Kinijara is quoted in El Imparcial saying that their goal is not to collect evidence for prosecution of crimes. They do not intend to harm anyone, nor do they expect justice. Rather, they seek to help families identify loved ones that have disappeared so they can have a proper burial. And as such, they do not fear retribution.

But evidence is collected where bodies are found. After the group has located bodies, a team of forensic criminology and ballistics experts, chemists and doctors from the Expert Services of the Attorney General’s Office carefully collect evidence as they coordinate the removal of the remains.

The searchers have discovered corpses in various states of decomposition. Some are in bags, others have been bound, many are skeletal remains. Most are men, but some are women, and at least one child.

All are taken to the Servicio Médico Forense (Semefo), the Sonora state medical forensic service in Ciudad Obregon, where DNA samples are collected. Family members can then submit a DNA sample to see if there is a match to any of the victims.

The Guereras Buscadoras are working with the support of the Mexican Defense Ministry and the Sonora State Prosecutor’s office. Their first outing on March 30 uncovered eight bodies in a rural field in the municipality of Cajeme, not far from Ciudad Obregon.

They returned to the same area on April 14 and unearthed 27 more bodies. The next day they found an additional three, bringing the total to 38. And Valadez Kinijara believes that there are many more yet to be discovered.

So, next week the Guerreras Buscadoras will meet with the Sonora State Attorney to discuss their next search efforts.

Hermosillo to Be Latest National Security Priority Area

Sonora newspaper El Imparcial reports that Hermosillo is the next security priority region in Mexico for federal authorities. The security enhancement will include the deployment of the Mexican National Guard to the city. 

The move to enhance security in Sonora was announced in mid-April by Alfonso Durazo Montaño, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection for Mexico. It indicates that public safety in the municipality of Hermosillo has declined to a point that it is now a national focus for improvement.

Of the existing 19 priority security zones that have already been established nationally for the deployment of federal police and armed forces, two current Sonora priority zones are Cajeme (Ciudad Obregon) and the Guaymas – Empalme region.

In addition to adding Hermosillo to its list of priority zones, the government also added priority focus areas in Tlajomulco, Jalisco and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. There are also proposals for the addition of another 24 security regions in Mexico, including two in Baja California Sur – La Paz and Los Cabos.

In his announcement, Secretary Durazo Montaño specified that the deployment of forces to security areas will depend on the essential training of new recruits. He added that by the end of this year troops can be active in 45 special priority security zones throughout Mexico.