Details behind the bizarre kidnapping and killing of Americans by one of Mexico’s oldest drug cartels continue to unravel as the organization behind the crime issues a formal apology and turns in its rouge members.
A local leader of the Gulf cartel, the drug gang behind the kidnappings was also arrested by Mexican authorities Thursday in a neighboring city.
Four South Carolinians were reported missing last Friday, March 3 after reportedly crossing the border into Mexico for a medical appointment. Closed-knit friends Zindell Brown, Shaeed Woodard and Eric Williams drove over 30 hours from the Myrtle Beach area to drop off Latavia McGee for cosmetic surgery, according to their families.
A fifth friend took the ride up to Mexico, but she left her documents behind and couldn’t pass the border.
Cheryl Orange, who stayed behind in Brownsville, Texas, told The Associated Press that the men were supposed to return within 15 minutes after crossing into the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on Friday. She contacted authorities after she not hearing from them for hours. Two of them never made it back. McGhee and Williams are in a hospital recovering after being rescued by authorities on Tuesday.
Reports show their vehicle crashed and was hit with a hail of bullets after they got lost in the town overrun by the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel. Mexican authorities say the drug gang mistook the group for Haitian drug dealers.
Cartel leaders, in a letter made public by The Associated Press on Thursday, said the hit went against the cartel’s rules, which call for “respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.”
The letter was coupled with a photo of five men tied up and face down on the pavement — members that the gang says are responsible for the ambush and kidnapping.
“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack…
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