Five more bodies found in western Mexico, bringing toll to 26 in past 3 days

Five more bodies found in western Mexico, bringing toll to 26 in past 3 days

2011-06-21 07:51:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

MICHOACAN, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Five more bodies were found in the Mexican state of Michoacan on Monday, bringing the total number of bodies found to 26 in the past three days, officials said.

The latest bodies were found in the municipality of Paracho at around 4 a.m. local time on Monday morning, according to the Deputy Justice Department in Uruapan. Authorities had already reported another 23 bodies found in different regions of the state, which is located in western Mexico.

According to official reports, eight of the victims were assassinated in the state's coastal area last Saturday, another 13 bodies were found in Cienega de Chapala on Sunday, and five others on Monday.

In the most recent findings, two bodies were found on 'Las Tres Esquinas' (the three corners) area of the Uruapan-Paracho highway. And just one kilometer (0.6 mile) from the scene, authorities located two more bodies. The first two fatal victims are estimated to be around 20 and 40 years old, while the second two are believed to be between 20 and 25 years old.

Less than 5 hours later, the fifth body was found in the same area. All five bodies showed signs of torture and a 'coup de grace,' which is a fatal blow usually intended to end the suffering of a fatally wounded person. The death toll sums to the 21 killings less than 2 weeks ago on June 8 in the state capital of Morelia; that is, 47 deaths in the past 11 days.

All of the dead bodies have been men between 18 and 40 years old. Assassins have dropped off their bodies in random locations in groups of two or three with written messages associated to criminal activity by the 'Templar Knights.'

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