ICE-QC-00012-15
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
INTELLIGENCE NOTE
(U//FOUO) Three U.S. Citizens Kidnapped and Murdered in Northern Tamaulipas, Mexico
November 14, 2014
(U//FOUO) Background
(U//FOUO) On October 13
th
, 2014, three U.S. citizens and one MX national were kidnapped in the small town of El Control, located west of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The three U.S. citizens, all siblings from Progreso, Texas were identified as Erica Maria ALVARADO- Rivera (26), Alex ALVARADO (22), and Jose Angel ALVARADO (21) were reportedly visiting their father who lived in El Control. The fourth individual was identified as Jose Guadalupe CASTANEDA-Benitez, a MX national and is also the alleged boyfriend to ALVARADO-Rivera. At the time of their kidnapping, ALVARADO-Rivera and Castaneda-Benitez were dining at a local restaurant La Curva Texas near El Control where ALVARADO-Rivera also planned to meet with her brothers Alex and Jose Angel and drive back to Progreso. Witnesses reported that at approximately 12:30 pm, a group of armed men were seen assaulting CASTANEDA-Benitez and ALVARADO-Rivera and later, as her brothers Alex and Jose Angel attempted to stop the assault, the armed gunmen took all four individuals and their vehicles into custody and were transported to an undisclosed location. The group of armed men had reportedly identified themselves as members of Grupo Hercules (MX Police Unit), which is considered an elite security unit created by and also protects the Mayor of Matamoros Norma Leticia Salazar Vazquez. (U//FOUO) On October 29
th
, 2014, MX authorities discovered the remains of CASTANEDA-Benitez, ALVARADO-Rivera, and her brother Alex and Jose Angel approximately 25 miles east of Matamoros. Each victim had their hands and feet tied and were all shot in the head. Initial reports indicated that the victims were killed the same day they were kidnapped by armed gunmen claiming to be members of Grupo Hercules. Due to the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies, DNA testing was conducted and family members identified clothing and tattoos that belonged to the three U.S. citizens. Family members later confirmed that CASTANEDA-Benitez was also ALVARADO-Rivera’s boyfriend. This report is produced in response to Standing Intelligence Need: ICE-05000-10, to wit: Border Crime and Violence/Transnational Criminal Organizations.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
Page 2 of 4
(U//FOUO) Victim Information:
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
Page 3 of 4
|