Police in northern Mexico have discovered 383 corpses improperly stored at a private crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, a city located approximately 10 miles south of El Paso, Texas. The bodies were found piled haphazardly across multiple rooms of the facility, with some remains potentially stored there for up to two years.
Eloy Garcia, communications coordinator of the Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office, confirmed the discovery during investigations at the crematorium. Garcia described the disturbing scene, stating that the corpses were “just thrown like that, indiscriminately, one on top of the other, on the floor.” The bodies were found stacked in no apparent order throughout various rooms of the building.
All 383 bodies had been embalmed but remained uncremated despite being accepted by the facility for cremation services. Of the recovered remains, forensic officials determined that 218 were male, 149 were female, and 16 were currently undetermined. Instead of receiving the ashes of their loved ones, families were given what Garcia described as “other material,” though authorities did not specify what these substitute materials were.
The Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office attributed the situation to negligence and mismanagement by the crematorium’s operators. Garcia emphasized that crematorium owners understand their daily processing capacity and cannot accept more bodies than they can handle. He blamed the carelessness and irresponsibility of the facility’s owners for the accumulation of uncremated remains.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the case, and one administrator from the crematorium voluntarily surrendered to prosecutors before the discovery was made public. State Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno met with concerned families who feared their loved ones might be among the recovered bodies. Moreno assured families that authorities would seek the highest possible penalties for those responsible and conduct a thorough investigation while minimizing further trauma to affected families.
The investigation began after initial reports suggested approximately 60 bodies were found at the site. However, further examination revealed the significantly higher number of 383 improperly stored remains. Some crematorium staff had reportedly left their positions before the facility was raided by authorities.
Authorities have not determined whether any of the discovered corpses belonged to victims of criminal violence. The prosecutor’s office continues investigating to establish the full extent of the mismanagement and determine what additional legal action may be taken against those responsible for the facility’s operations.
This discovery highlights ongoing challenges within Mexico’s forensic system, which has been overwhelmed for years by high volumes of bodies requiring processing. The system faces significant constraints including insufficient personnel and budgetary restrictions, problems exacerbated by the country’s struggles with organized crime.
The crematorium discovery was announced just one day after another grim finding elsewhere in Mexico. Twenty bodies, several of them decapitated, were discovered on a highway bridge in Sinaloa state, where factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel have been engaged in violent conflicts. Four headless corpses were found by the roadside while 16 bodies were discovered inside an abandoned vehicle. Five human heads were found in a bag at the scene.
Members of the State Attorney General’s Office and Municipal Police remained stationed outside the crematorium following the discovery. The investigation continues as authorities work to identify all recovered remains and determine the full scope of the facility’s mismanagement. Officials have not provided a timeline for when the identification process might be completed or when affected families might receive definitive answers about their loved ones.
