Women’s Remains Discovered at the Same Site Where Teacher Irma Hernández Was Murdered

The bodies of Belén Ramos Álvarez, 26, from Tuxpan; Xóchitl Ivette Villar Barrios, 33, also from Tuxpan; and Jimena Hernández Hernández, 21, from El Arenal, Huejutla, Hidalgo, all reported missing, were recovered on the property. 

Authorities are securing the area of the clandestine grave where the bodies of three women were found in Álamo, Veracruz.

The Veracruz Attorney General’s Office is investigating the origin of the human remains found in clandestine graves at the Santa Rosalía ranch in the Tepetzintlilla community in Álamo, where retired teacher and taxi driver Irma Hernández Cruz, 62, was murdered in July after being kidnapped and forced to record a video.

In the last two weeks, the bodies of Belén Ramos Álvarez, 26, originally from Tuxpan; Xóchitl Ivette Villar Barrios, 33, also from Tuxpan; and Jimena Hernández Hernández, 21, from El Arenal, Huejutla, Hidalgo, all of whom were reported missing, were recovered from the property.

The search and exhumation efforts began in August, following the police mobilization resulting from the kidnapping and murder of teacher Irma Hernández Cruz, also a taxi driver, in that area.

Regarding this matter, Secretary of Government Ricardo Ahued Bardahuil confirmed that the Prosecutor’s Office is analyzing the origin of the remains and didn’t rule out the possibility of additional victims.

“This one is indeed being investigated, and perhaps the origin of others (…) I am sure that, next week, they will provide specific information on this matter,” he stated.

The official assured that the state administration is not withholding information about the case.

Ahued also addressed the case of Álvaro Cruz Rangel and Gregoria Malerva Cordero, a married couple from the Zapotal Zaragoza community in Tuxpan, who appeared in a video, blindfolded, denouncing alleged payments from a criminal group to the head of security at the Tuxpan prison.

He stated that both are alive and under guard, although in distress.

Ongoing Investigations

The remains of the three young women have already been returned to their families. The state Attorney General’s Office is maintaining an open investigation to determine responsibility for these illegal burials.

Ministry authorities continue inspections at the Santa Ros

Sources: Proceso, Cartel Insider