Burned Bodies of 5 Missing Musicians Found Near Texas Border
Authorities in northern Mexico confirmed Thursday that the charred remains of five missing musicians from the band Grupo Fugitivo were discovered near Reynosa, a city bordering Texas. The musicians had disappeared on May 25 while traveling to a scheduled performance.
According to investigators from the state of Tamaulipas, the group was last seen driving an SUV around 10 p.m. that night. Shortly after, they were reportedly abducted. Their bodies were later found on the outskirts of Reynosa, a region known for cartel activity. Authorities have arrested nine individuals suspected of being affiliated with a faction of the Gulf Cartel in connection with the case.
Officials have not released a motive for the killings and declined to address media reports suggesting the bodies had been burned. Grupo Fugitivo was known for performing regional Mexican music, including cumbia and corridos—a genre that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity, sometimes drawing controversy for romanticizing cartel figures with Robin Hood-like imagery.
It remains uncertain whether the band performed songs referencing drug lords or if they were merely unfortunate victims caught in the web of cartel violence. In recent years, similar bands have received death threats or had their U.S. visas revoked due to controversial lyrics.
The musicians’ final contact was a brief message to their families confirming they were en route to their performance. After that, all communication abruptly stopped.
Their disappearance sent shockwaves through Tamaulipas, a state long troubled by cartel-related violence. Families quickly filed missing persons reports, and the public responded with outrage. Protesters temporarily blocked the international bridge connecting Reynosa and Pharr, Texas, later gathering at a nearby cathedral for prayer and a vigil to honor the missing men.
Reynosa has seen a sharp rise in violence since 2017, fueled by turf wars over drug trafficking, fuel theft, and human smuggling. This tragedy echoes a similar event in 2018, when two members of Los Norteños de Río Bravo were kidnapped and later found dead along a federal highway in the same region.