Mother and Son Murdered After Helping Discover Mexico’s ‘Ranch of Horror’ in Jalisco

The infamous Ranch of Horror

Two members of a civil search organization in Mexico, Carmen Morales and her son Jaime Ramirez, were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle on Wednesday night in Jalisco state. The victims were part of Guerreros Buscadores, a citizen-led group known for locating missing persons, and had recently played a key role in uncovering a mass grave site dubbed the “ranch of horror” in Teuchitlán, near Guadalajara.

The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office confirmed the fatal shooting but stated that, at present, the killings are not officially being linked to the victims’ involvement with the search group. However, group representatives and human rights advocates have raised concerns, pointing out that Morales had previously received multiple threats.

The mother and son had been actively searching for a relative who disappeared in February 2024. Their murders come just weeks after the killing of another member of Guerreros Buscadores, Teresa Gonzalez, who had been looking for her missing brother.

The “ranch of horror” site discovered in March 2024 is believed to have been used as a cartel training ground. Searchers at the location found hundreds of personal clothing items and skeletal remains scattered across the property. Authorities suspect the site was operated by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations.

Despite the danger, volunteer search groups like Guerreros Buscadores continue to comb remote areas across Mexico for clues about the country’s more than 124,000 missing persons. Many searchers face intimidation and violence, often with little or no protection from the government.

Jalisco remains one of the most affected states by the disappearance crisis, with local and international human rights organizations urging authorities to improve protections for citizen searchers and ensure accountability in these targeted killings.