Authorities announced on Thursday that the charred remains of five musicians, members of a Mexican regional music band who had been reported missing, were found in Reynosa, a northern city near the Texas border.
The musicians were part of Grupo Fugitivo, a band known locally for performing at parties and dances. They had been missing since May 25. Investigators from the Tamaulipas state prosecutor’s office, who had been searching for them, revealed the men were abducted around 10 p.m. that night while traveling in an SUV to a venue where they were scheduled to perform. Their remains were discovered on the outskirts of Reynosa. Prosecutors said nine suspects believed to be linked to a faction of the Gulf Cartel, which has a strong presence in the area, have been arrested.
Officials did not immediately explain the motive behind the killings and did not deny reports from local media that the bodies had been burned. The band’s musical style—Mexican regional music, which includes genres like corridos and cumbia—has recently experienced a surge in popularity, gaining international attention. Some young artists in the genre occasionally pay homage to drug cartel leaders, portraying them as Robin Hood–like figures.
It remains unclear if Grupo Fugitivo performed such songs or if they were simply caught in the widespread cartel violence that plagues the city. However, other musicians have faced death threats from cartels, and some have had their U.S. visas revoked following accusations from the Trump administration that they glorify criminal activity.
The last contact from the musicians was on the night of their kidnapping, when they told family members they were on their way to the event. After that, all communication ceased.
Their disappearance ignited widespread outrage in Tamaulipas, a state long plagued by cartel violence. Families reported the missing men, called on the public for help, and residents protested in the streets.
On Wednesday, protesters blocked the international bridge connecting Reynosa with Pharr, Texas, then gathered at a local cathedral for prayers and tributes to the missing musicians.
Reynosa, a border city next to the United States, has seen a rise in violence since 2017 due to internal power struggles among criminal groups competing over drug trafficking, human smuggling, and fuel theft.
This tragedy echoes a 2018 case when armed men abducted two members of the musical group Los Norteños de Río Bravo, whose bodies were later found along the highway linking Reynosa and Río Bravo, Tamaulipas.
