The remains of 32 individuals have been discovered in an abandoned house in Irapuato, a city in Mexico’s Guanajuato state. This grim finding comes amidst ongoing violence in the region, which has been plagued by organized crime activities.
The state prosecutor’s office reports that 15 of the victims have been positively identified thus far. The condition of the remains, described as “fragmented and complex,” has presented significant challenges to the identification process. Local media outlets suggest that body parts were found in plastic bags, though this detail has not been officially confirmed.
Guanajuato, despite its status as an industrial hub and tourist destination, currently holds the unfortunate distinction of being Mexico’s deadliest state. Official homicide statistics paint a sobering picture, with over 3,100 murders recorded in the state last year alone. This accounts for 10.5% of all such cases nationwide.
Much of the violence in Guanajuato is attributed to a turf war between two criminal organizations: the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation cartel. The latter has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the previous U.S. administration.
This discovery raises important questions about the ongoing issue of missing persons in Mexico. The government’s current tally of disappeared individuals stands at nearly 132,000. In Guanajuato alone, approximately 3,600 missing persons cases have been reported.
While law enforcement agencies point to efforts to combat organized crime, relatives of the missing continue to seek answers. A group known as “Hasta encontrarte” or “Until I find you” visited the site, hoping for news of their loved ones.
This development follows earlier reports of violence in the region. Last month, a local government official was fatally shot during an amateur basketball game. In June, 11 people lost their lives in a shooting at a neighborhood party in Irapuato. The evidence suggests a pattern of ongoing conflict that continues to impact civilian lives.
As this story continues to unfold, we will provide updates as more information becomes available. The search for truth and justice in Guanajuato remains an ongoing process, one that we will continue to monitor closely.
