MEXICO-VIOLENCE/BODIES 60 bodies found in abandoned crematorium in Mexico: official

Record ID: 308120

  • Title: MEXICO-VIOLENCE/BODIES 60 bodies found in abandoned crematorium in Mexico: official
  • Date: 6th February 2015
  • Summary: **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS INSIDE CREMATORIUM VARIOUS OF BODIES COVERED IN SHEETS IN CREMATORIUM VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS CARRYING BODY FROM CREMATORIUM TO VAN EXTERIOR OF CREMATORIUM VARIOUS OF BODIES FROM CREMATORIUM BEING CARRIED OUT ON STRETCHER TO VAN SIGN AT CREMATORIUM MORE OF OFFICIALS CARRYING BODY FROM CREMATORIUM BODIES FROM CR
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1LHKSBWS7GWN69TB3ZS7P1QFM
  • Story Text: ++WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES++
    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS VIDEO THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Sixty bodies, including men, women and children, were found in an abandoned crematorium in western Mexico, authorities said on Friday (February 06), in a discovery that the state attorney general said was likely linked to negligence rather than drug-related violence.
    Authorities, who originally said 61 bodies were found, said the remains at the crematorium, near the decaying seaside resort of Acapulco, were clothed, wrapped in sheets and sprinkled with lime. Many of them were in a state of decomposition.
    Still, some of the bodies were "perfectly embalmed" and prepared for cremation, according to a statement from the attorney general's office.
    Authorities are investigating how and when the people died, and whether those responsible were guilty of disrespecting humans remains, the statement said.
    At a news conference in the resort city, Guerrero's Attorney General Miguel Angel Godinez said authorities were also exploring possible fraud charges for those who owned the crematorium.
    "There is also the possibility of fraud by the owner in regards to debts to the families of those bodies which were found. We also want to mention that each representative of funeral homes and the president of funeral homes in the city have come forward to find and present the owner of the crematorium," he said.
    However, Godinez stopped short of singling out the unidentified owner of the building saying the suspect needs to come forward and that more evidence is needed.
    "The building's been out of service for over a year. Now what we need to do is that the person (suspect) comes forward and gives a statement. I don't think we have sufficient elements in place to charge a person. We're investigating. The facts are very premature. The owner of the building needs to come forward," he added.
    Local residents living near the shut-up crematorium had called authorities because of the smell.
    "About a year ago we complained but the government didn't come, they didn't take notice. Environmental officials arrived but they didn't put up any signs or anything. Now we see this is the result We didn't know anything. It was all closed up, with a bad smell," said local Rosa Armida Perez.
    Ninfa Sanchez, a neighbouring resident, told media she was relieved the bodies are finally being taken away.
    "It's been about a year but always when they were there cremating there was always smelt of death, the smoke and everything affected us. It's great that they have seen this and removed this place because its bad for health," she said.
    The grisly discovery was made 130 miles (211 km) from the town of Iguala, where 43 student teachers were abducted by corrupt police and apparently massacred by drug gang members.
    President Enrique Pena Nieto is facing his deepest crisis over his government's handling of the students' disappearance. The case laid bare Mexico's deep problem of impunity and corruption and it has overshadowed his efforts to focus attention on economic reforms.
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