Rafael Cardona, 53, and Gloria Ambriz, 50, were driving through Angamacutiro, Michoacán when they were killed on December 11. Gunmen opened fire on the couple as they drove a black 2016 Ford Platinum pickup truck, according to reports from the Michoacán Attorney General’s Office.
Local security officials found the riddled car near an intersection and called the police. Ambritz was pronounced dead on the scene, while Cardona died the next morning due to his injuries in the hospital.
The tragedy has Connection to Local Leadership
Cardona is allegedly the brother-in-law of Angamacutiro’s mayor, Hermes Pacheco. The mayor confirmed that indeed, the couple had his car at the time the attack occurred, a detail most relevant to possible motives. Local authorities say the proximity in which the family lived to certain local political figures is highly symptomatic of the spate of violence that dogs Michoacán due to heavy cartel activity since the 1980s.
The couple arrived in Mexico on November 30 to spend the holidays. Now, their three children-an adult daughter and two minors-are in the care of extended family members.
Investigations Underway
Authorities have yet to establish any motive for the killings; ballistic evidence was recovered as part of the investigation. The United States Embassy in Mexico issued a statement in acknowledgment of the tragedy, extending the availability of consular support, if needed.
Michoacán is one of the most violent regions in Mexico and is considered to have one of the highest rates of homicides in the world, according to the World Bank Group. Their killing has been a grim reminder of the perils facing both locals and tourists alike in areas ridden with organized crime. Community Gathers to Honor the Victims
A memorial mass for Cardona and Ambriz is scheduled on December 14 in Angamacutiro. Their family, the whole municipality, is deeply grieved by this death, showing that violence is affecting everybody. As the investigation continues, the loss of these two lives contributes to a growing sense of alarm regarding the safety of citizens and international visitors alike in Mexico.
