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Three members of a Southern California family have been missing for nearly a month after taking a trip to Mexico, loved ones say.
Roberto Muñoz, his wife Cecilia, and their grandson Armando Salinas, had gone to Mexico to visit relatives over the holidays. But just as the three were beginning their trip home, family members lost contact with them.
Relative Delphina Layton said the family had reached out to the U.S. Embassy and the FBI, to no avail.
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Cellphones belonging to the missing group appear to have been turned off, and border records show that they never crossed back into the United States, she said.
Mexico's drug war is also part of a drug culture with roots in music, movies and even religion
Layton expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation.
“I need returned calls,” she said. “Somebody get back to me and tell me that you’re doing something.”
A Palm Springs, Calif., television station reported that the family had been traveling through Chihuahua, Mexico, and passing through the rough border town of Ciudad Juarez. U.S. relatives were reported to be living in the Coachella Valley, northeast of San Diego.
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This is just a story, no names, nothing. Waste of time.
My guess is that this family was delivering drug money under the guise of a family vacation and something went awry! This happens all the time with Mexican families. They may be being held for ransom and the family doesn't want to pay, so they reach out to the American government and the media thinking that will force the kidnappers hand.
Many people think that Mexico is just dangerous if you are in the "border" towns. You will be shocked to read how many U.S. and Canadian citizens die while vacationing in Mexico in the tourist areas. To read their stories go to:
To read their stories google "nolan webster".
Huh, I smell cartel or gang related here. That, or local police who are just as corrupt.
If a Vet from Iraq can't go but a few miles into this country only to get wrongly accused of having a completely legal firearm that was checked at the border then to be put into one of the worst prisons that is run by Cartel for almost a half year... what makes any American think they can head into Mexico safely without running into some form of trouble?
Folks let's face it, America doesn't have the reputation it once had, countries across the globe are hating us each passing year because of a failed government that continues to abuse its power both abroad and at home, and now we have enemies right at our door steps.
If we don't get our government in check soon, our government will be the last thing we will have to worry about.
Why ANYBODY would want to go to that $h!t-hole country nowadays I'll never know! I went there for about 3 hours back in the late 70's (out of complete ignorance) and it was a total cesspool even back then. I can't begin to imagine how heinous it is now!
Enter at your own risk and don't complain about the consequences.
...good!! 4 less illegal mexicans in America....
Thank you mexican thugs for getting your own and saving us money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey @!$%#, they were American citizens and the lady was my wife's aunt.
think next time before posting and showing how stupid and ignorant you and the rest here posting are
rot in hell and enjoy it
uhhh? why go bak? u aoiint kum9in bak norff. wat a stupit thang to do. u mexichanos, spent alls dis trouble to goiit r dun her, and den u wanna go bak?? stay der dis times.
That has got to be the most incomprehensible and illiterate post ever on this site! Congrats on setting a new record!
Do not expect the State Department or the FBI just drop everything to look for your relatives who might be missing in a foreign country. Mexico is a foreign country and the US has no jurisdiction. The family must have proof and concrete information that their relatives are being help captive before anything can really be done. You must rely on the law enforcement of Mexico to handle this case. The US Border should keep track of US citizens crossing into the Mexico just to verify that they did enter and exit the country.
Who cares. Kinda like hiking in Iraq.
I love Mexico, but I won't be traveling anywhere there for some time. You have cartels driving around Juarez with the cartel initials proudly displayed on thier vehicles. That's shows you that they run the place out there. I'm sorry your family disappeared, but there is little the U.S. can do to help.
Ciudad Juarez is not a "border town." It is a city, and the name, in English, means "Juarez City." It's not the job of the FBI to be tracking the whereabouts of Americans who venture into foreign countries, unless, of course, they're U.S. State Department operatives.
I've an American who has been living in Mexico for twelve years, and have never even come close to being kidnapped or harmed. Then again, I know how to dress, and don't come off as some kind of dumb gringo with wads of money in my pocket. I live among the Mexicans, and speak the language, so I don't have "victim" tattooed across my forehead.
@OldDog47
"Here's a hint, look at a map. Then let us know what route there is from Baja to the mainland!"
OldDog you need to look at a map and go back to 7th grade geography class before you troll. Juarez is across the border from El Paso, TX. This family was from San Diego. Jessica's point was well taken. Why would this family want to travel all the way from San Diego, through Baja, to come back into the US all the way under Texas. To do so, they'd have to travel across three large Mexican states to Juarez and cross the Rio Grande. Juarez is the drug capital of Mexico and it's most dangerous city. All of these are important issues and questions to raise.
They didn't live in san diego they lived in Coachella it's really no where near san diego, and jessica has no point she said they were drug runners they are not i would know that there my grandparents, my grandma was too old to be messing with anything like that and my grandpa was a good man he wouldn't want nothing to do with drugs !!
This headline should have been:
Family from Mexico missing after trip to Mexico
They weren't from mexico, only my grandpa was from mexico but he is a american citizen !
Look, you gotta be nuts to go to places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Iran or North Korea to 'visit'.
I don't even think anyplace in Africa is acceptably 'safe'.
Truly, 'SEE AMERICA FIRST' if you're an American!
If one decides to walk through Compton. LA with a "I HATE GANGS" shirt on, what does one expect to happen??
There are parts of my city where I would be killed for just walking through it.....so i choose to walk elsewhere.
Statistically & factually, Houston Texas is FAR more dangerous than any part of Mexico. DON'T GO TO HOUSTON!!!!!!....right?
Some of you folks need to travel beyond your city borders and stop watching news headlines that only focus on Mexico's murders.
Using someone else's email. Ms MS is not going to like what I write. But I got writes to express my opinion just like anybody else. Illegal immigrants are now going to be legalized when the power structure does not seem to be working for "citizens and legal residents"? How does that happen? This does not make sense. Many of them come here and breed babies. California and few other States is already crowded and in many places you cannot travel without knowing Spanish...and qualify of life feels like Tijuana. They also never move out of California and the Southeast...while claiming to be proud Americans. They have gadgets that working middle class cannot afford. And their women are all eager to marry rich white men, rich Jewish men or rich Indian men. This whole freakin thing is a political initiative to get Latino votes in 2016. But Latinos are good at bargaining, they'll just ask for money and benefits and then vote for some Carlos or Candy (a pretty gal). And Rubio does not like Hispanics from Mexico or Latin America that much. I know MS will get annoyed about what I write. But she is that bleeding heart lady who gets her heart, brain and spirit stamped on and exploited. If you are an illegal immigrant who becomes a citizen then you should still report to Mexican embassy. It is their headache. La Rasa, la rasa, la rasa...
The grandson's name is Salinas; they may have been narconapped for ransom, or executed for ties to cartels. His photograph looks more like a booking photo.
He had nothing to do with the cartels, and it wasn't a booking photo it was a family picture we croped it to see his face more
I must agree with other posters who can't understand why ANYONE in their right mind would go there. Geez, go to the Grand Canyon, or take the kid to Disney but why on earth take them there? The dangers are well known. I feel so bad for the family but as someone else said- Use some common sense!
Hey @!$%#, they were American citizens and the lady was my wife's aunt. They had family there in Mexico. What are they supposed to do, never visit. The husband owned land in Mexico, he was visiting his sister and other family members. they visited often and this time they were unlucky. Nobody knows why they went through texas, maybe they had family there also. They did not live in or near San Diego, that is 3 hours from us here in the Coachella Valley. The family are reading these posts and most of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Thanks for any hopes, prayers and wishful thoughts and for those with the hurtful language, asinine and idiotic posts, you can all rot in hell and enjoy the ride.
Unless and until this lawless country gets control of the hardened criminals in their midst, they do not deserve the presence of one American. Boycott the God forsaken cesspool.
I have always wanted to go back to Mexico for a visit,but now I fear it would be a one way visit. Corruption,bandits and drugs are ruining a once wonderful country. It can be saved if druggies in the U.S. stopped, or were stopped, from buying. I'm afraid hell will freeze over before this happens. I sometimes think there are many people in this country who don't want to stop the drug traffic, and they aren't users.
Mexico is here.They just needed to wait.Their whole family will be here
I'll never go there, looks like hell on earth.