Tony Tormenta : Story Behind His Death

As you all know, Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen or Tony Tormenta, as many knew him by, was killed last Friday in a shootout against the Mexican military forces.

Over the last few months, a lot information has been flying around about the events leading to his ultimate death, I will try to share them with you guys here in this article. None of the information is being cemented as “facts”, it’s just simple information that's been received by several sources. I feel like I have to put this HUGE disclaimer before releasing this information due to the fact that in a recent article I wrote, I nearly got crucified for having an open mind. Anyways.

What I ask of you today before reading this is to keep an open mind, and remember, this was all information which was passed on to me by people who are somehow affiliated to the war. I do not paint this to be facts, I will only share with you my thoughts on this.

Ok, so here’s the deal. Couple of months back I’m sure some of you guys heard about the huge shootout that broke out in Matamoros, where a a picture flooded the internet claiming that it was possibly Tony. I quickly laughed at the idea and told you guys to ignore it. Well, what a lot of people don't know, even though he was not killed, he was actually captured. Now this is part of the story which I do back up and can almost swear by it.

Story is that Tony was involved in a shootout with Zetas and the military got involved, a huge chase and shootout eventually broke out. Story behind that, Tony was cornered and captured. Upon being captured there was an agreement with the "Commandante", Tony was to pay 3,000,000 dollars to be released. Apparently he was treated like shit and even smacked around by the marines, well none the less, story continue with Metro riding down to Matamoros to pay the ransom for Tormenta. It all sounded too Hollywood to be honest, I didn’t really take much to it. It became a lot more noticeable after I was told this by more than three people, all stating the same story but adding a piece to it.

Apparently word got out and the “Commandante” was charged and sent to Mexico D.F. for releasing Tormenta. I don’t know if some of you guys remember reading it all over the place, newspapers printing “Confirmed by Credible Military Sources”, meaning high ranking officers. Well, anyways, this guys will not just jump up on a speculation and print shit out like that, if that was published, it was published because it had a strong character backing up the claim. This was the first piece of the puzzle, story I heard weeks ago.

Well just yesterday I was told what appears to be the second part of the story. Apparently, after Tormenta was released, the man kidnapped 10 soldiers and called up the “Commandante” at the time (this is before he was prosecuted) and asked for a ransom. The Officer ofcourse, did not give two cents, so Tormenta killed the soldiers and threw their bodies on the side of the road (I can’t remember what road). Anyways, story continues. Apparently after the bodies were found, the Marines retaliated, they found out who his wife and family are and kidnap his wife and son.

Tony Tormenta is somehow contacted and alerted that they have his family, he completely disregards it by stating it is his sister and nephew, I guess to see if they would let them go or something, I don't know. Apparently the Marines dismembered his son and badly beat up his wife, let her go only to go back and describe how they had murdered her son to Tormenta. At that moment it clicked, weeks ago I had heard from a friend that Cardena's Sister had been kidnapped, that's when it kind of started to itch, you know. That certain situation where everything just seems to click.

“It’s just a story and really, it’s the first time I’ve heard it and nothing absolutely to back it up”, is what I thought. As the day went on I start reading my favorite website, borderlandbeat.com and I start reading my comrades coverage, when all of a sudden I remember, the story, and I think, “why not, let’s just do a little research”

This is where it get's interesting..

" Supposed Marines Kidnap Two In Tamaulipas"
"Karla Elizabeth Cárdenas states a convoy of Marines broke into her house on sunday
and took her mother and brother."

That is an extract from this post in Spanish (http://www.vanguardia.com.mx/supuestosmarinossecuestranadosentamaulipas-560135.html), I will not translate all of it, but it basically descibres how Karla Elizabeth states that an alleged convoy of Marines broke into her house on Sunday. This article was published on the 29th of September, stating it happened on Sunday 26th. So far it fits, right, first shootout where tony was supposedly captured and released happened on the 18th of September I believe. So far it fits with the story right, but I mean, it could be anybody, just because her last name is Cardenas, does not mean she's related right?

Until I found this other article..

"Tormenta's Body is returned to Wife and Daughter"
Authorities informed that the body of Tormenta was turned over to his wife
Hermelinda Rivera and daughter Carla Elizabeth Cárdenas Rivera.
( http://mexico.cnn.com/nacional/2010/11/10/las-autoridades-entregan-el-cuerpo-de-tony-tormenta-a-su-esposa-e-hija)

Ok, well the name is spelled with a C instead of with a K like on the first link, but I'm pretty sure it's the same person.

I published this information to give you guys an opportunity to realize that the stuff that we see on Tv is not all true, and that a lot of times information we think to be true, is really just a part of a bigger puzzle. It's not as simple as we all would like to think. Some of you guys where asking how Tormenta was still hanging around in Matamoros after how hot it was, would this be a good excuse? His son murdered and wife beat and probably raped.

I was told his son was kidnapped, and in the last article they mention Wife and Daughter, nothing about a son, although I know that Tormenta had a son. It all just seems to click, and I wanted to give you guys an opportunity to digest it.

My educated Guess....

-Maka