Relatives of kidnapped Americans in Mexico said a purported apology from the Mexican cartel blamed for the attack did little to ease the pain caused by the assault on their loved ones, who were ultimately killed or injured.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press from a law enforcement officer in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, the Escorpión faction of the Gulf cartel apologized to the people of Matamoros—where the four Americans were kidnapped—and to the Mexican woman who he died in the incident and with the attacked Americans and their families.
Later that day, the father of Shaeed Woodard, one of the two Americans killed, said he was surprised that the cartel apologized for the violent kidnapping recorded in a video that quickly went viral online.
“I’ve been trying to make sense of it for a whole week. I was just restless. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. It’s crazy to see your own child taken from you like that, in a violent way like that. He didn’t deserve it,” James Woodard told reporters Thursday when discussing the death of his son.
The cousin of Eric Williams, who was shot in the left leg during the kidnapping, said his family feels “great” knowing he is alive but is not accepting any apology from the cartel.
“It’s not going to change anything about the suffering we went through,” Jerry Wallace told the AP on Thursday. Wallace, 62, called on the US and Mexican governments to better address cartel violence.
The letter attributed to the cartel condemned the violence and said it turned over its own responsible members to authorities.
“We have decided to hand over those directly involved and responsible for the events, who at all times acted on their own decision and indiscipline,” the letter reads, adding that these individuals had gone against the cartel’s rules, which include respect “the life and integrity of the innocent”.
Drug cartels have been known to broadcast messages to intimidate their rivals and authorities, but at times like these they also use them as public relations work to try to smooth over situations that could affect their business. The events that occurred last Friday in Matamoros threaten to affect the cartel’s businesses.
The killings of the Americans drew National Guard troops and a team of Army special forces to conduct patrols that, in drug traffickers’ terminology, “heat up the plaza,” said Mexican security analyst David Saucedo.
A photograph of five men tied face down on the pavement accompanied the letter, which an official shared with the AP on condition of anonymity because he did not have authorization to share the document.
So far, state authorities have not publicly confirmed whether they have arrested any more suspects.
Another state security official said five men were found tied up inside one of the vehicles authorities had been searching for, along with the letter. That official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case.
Last Friday, the four Americans crossed into Matamoros from Texas for one of them to undergo cosmetic surgery. Around noon, they were shot in the center of Matamoros and then put in a truck. A Mexican woman, Areli Pablo Servando, 33, was also killed in the incident, apparently from being hit by a stray bullet.
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