Bodies Of Kidnapped Americans In Mexico Returned To U.S. With An Alleged ‘Apology’ Note From Mexican Drug Cartel

The remains of the two kidnapped Americans in Mexico were returned to the U.S. by the Mexican authorities. According to reports, a Mexican drug apologized and surrendered five of its members involved in the assault to the authorities. Law enforcement officials speculate that the victims were mistakenly identified as drug traffickers. Find out new details about the case inside…

Mexican drug cartel admits responsibility for kidnapped Americans

In a shocking twist of events, a Mexican drug cartel has come forward and claimed responsibility for the four kidnapped Americans in Mexico last week. Not only did the gang admit to their heinous crime, but they also handed over five of their members and left an apology note for their actions.

Social media was ablaze with photos of the five gang members, all with their hands tied, standing in front of a pickup truck. Peep the pics below:

5 members of Mexico’s “Gulf Cartel” who kidnapped 4 Americans and killed 2 of them — have been tied up and dumped in the street with an “apology letter” pic.twitter.com/jgcvdV3L9Y

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 9, 2023

The windshield of the vehicle featured a handwritten letter of apology.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter from a law enforcement source in Tamaulipas, the Mexican state where the Americans were attacked. Unfortunately, two of the travelers were killed, and another one was left wounded in a shooting that occurred in the border city of Matamoros for cosmetic surgery.

Victims mistakenly identified as drug smugglers

According to authorities, it is likely that the cartel members mistook the victims for drug smugglers and abducted them after shooting their van. In a surprising turn of events, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel released a letter of apology to the people of Matamoros, a Mexican woman who lost her life due to a stray bullet, and the four American tourists, along with their families.

“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 of discipline,” the letter reads, adding that those people had gone against the cartel’s rules.

Lastnight 5 handcuffed men were adandoned in the streets of Matamoros with them a message in which the Gulf Cartel accuses them of having participated in the kidnapping of Americans and apologizes for the death of three people, including a Mexican per source pic.twitter.com/37doSnJ2cP

— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) March 9, 2023

The Associated Press obtained a photo that depicts the gang members face-down on the ground. The image also revealed that the culprits were tied up inside one of the vehicles that authorities had been searching for. As if that weren't enough, an official who wasn't authorized to speak about the case revealed that the photo was accompanied by the apology letter.

The Brownsville police department, where the travelers initially crossed into Mexico, confirmed they are aware of the recent developments in Matamoros. According to police spokesman Martin Sandoval, the FBI is working to verify if the suspects in the photo are the ones responsible for the attack. However, the FBI has not provided any comments regarding the matter at this time.

Bodies of victims returned to the US

Late on Thursday evening, Mexican authorities returned the bodies of the two Americans, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, who tragically lost their lives in the violent crossfire of unidentified gunmen in the border city of Matamoros.

#LataviaWashington and #EricWiseWilliams, the only two surviving Americans who were kidnapped in #Mexico with two others last Friday were seen being treated by paramedics after they were rescued by the Mexican authorities Tuesday. #MexicoKidnapping pic.twitter.com/Aqu9iYRLwt

— The North Carolina Beat (@TheNCBeat) March 7, 2023

Eric Williams survived with a leg wound and Latavia McGee was physically unharmed.

BREAKING - The bodies of Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown (the 2 Americans killed in the kidnapping in Matamoros) are being transported to the US , convoy en rounte @NewsNation pic.twitter.com/3Wcao6ZnGS

— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) March 9, 2023

After conducting autopsies, security forces carefully escorted the remains to American authorities who drove them across the bridge to Brownsville, Texas. The Associated Press reported that a Mexican woman named Areli Pablo Servando, aged 33, also lost her life due to a stray bullet during the tragic incident

American tourists killed after being kidnapped in Mexico ID’d as Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown https://t.co/YAwGa7kCub pic.twitter.com/DX6l73WZyY

— New York Post (@nypost) March 7, 2023

Relatives of victims skeptical of cartel apology

Eric Williams' cousin, Jerry Wallace, told the Associated Press that the family is relieved he is alive but does not accept the cartel's apology.

“It ain’t going to change nothing about the suffering that we went through,” said Wallace, 62, who called for the American and Mexican governments to better address cartel violence.

Jerry Robinette, a former special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio, said he wasn't surprised the cartel turned over the five men it claims were involved in the attack to Mexican authorities.

“Many times we’ve seen the cartel will police themselves,” he said. “It’s not good for their business. They’ll clean up their own mess.”

Fifth member of traveling party left behind

As more details about the kidnapping trickle in, there are reports that a fifth member of the group stayed behind because she had forgotten required travel documents.

Brownsville police located the fifth member of the traveling party, Cheryl Orange, who was left behind in Brownsville due to forgetting her travel documents. The group had made the trip from South Carolina to Mexico for Latavia McGee's surgery, which was initially reported as a tummy tuck but later clarified by Orange to be a "gluteal augmentation."

Cheryl was the one who first alerted the authorities to the safety concerns of the group, calling the police on Saturday, a day after the others had crossed the border. She reported that she had last seen the group leaving a Brownsville motel at 8AM on Friday (March 3rd), in a rented white minivan with North Carolina plates, headed towards Matamoros.

Let us keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this difficult time, and may justice prevail for those affected by this senseless act of violence.

EXTRAS:

1. MSU police release timeline of shooting and the note the gunman left behind. STORY

2. Cowboys legend Michael Irvin addressed his lawsuit against Marriott in an emotional press conference on Wednesday. STORY

Photos: Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP