In a chilling revelation, authorities in Reynosa, a northern Mexican city near the Texas border, uncovered the bodies of five missing musicians on Thursday. The victims were part of Grupo Fugitivo, a band celebrated for their performances of regional Mexican music at local events and gatherings.
The Tamaulipas state prosecutors had been probing the disappearance of the musicians since Sunday. The band members were reportedly kidnapped around 10 p.m. while traveling to a performance venue in an SUV. The vehicle was later discovered near the Specialized Unit for the Investigation of Forced Disappearances.
The bodies were found on the outskirts of Reynosa. Nine individuals, suspected to be members of a Gulf Cartel faction, have been arrested in relation to the case. The Gulf Cartel is known to have a significant influence in the city.
The motive behind the brutal killings remains a mystery. Authorities have yet to provide an explanation for the murders and did not deny local media reports suggesting that the bodies had been burned.
Grupo Fugitivo was known for their performances of Mexican regional music, a genre that includes a variety of styles such as corridos and cumbia. This genre has gained international acclaim in recent years. Some emerging artists in this genre have been known to pay homage to drug cartel leaders, often portrayed as Robin Hood-like figures. However, it remains unclear whether Grupo Fugitivo participated in such practices or if they were simply victims of the rampant cartel violence that has terrorized the city.
The musicians were last in contact with their families on the night of their abduction, informing them that they were en route to the event. Their disappearance sparked widespread outrage in Tamaulipas, a state that has long been scarred by cartel violence. The victims’ families reported the disappearances and sought public support, leading to protests. Demonstrators blocked the international bridge between Reynosa and Pharr, Texas, and gathered at a local cathedral to pray and make offerings for the missing musicians.
Reynosa, a city on the U.S.-Mexico border, has been wrestling with escalating violence since 2017 due to internal disputes among groups vying for control over drug trafficking, human smuggling, and fuel theft. This incident mirrors a similar case in 2018 when two members of the musical group “Los Norteños de Río Bravo” were abducted and later found dead on the federal highway connecting Reynosa to Río Bravo, Tamaulipas.