Drug Investigation Hovers Over Jenni Rivera’s Tragic Death

By Chivis Martinez And Havana Pura for Borderland Beat

Bigger Than Life

The weekend plane crash carrying singer Jenni Rivera will require DNA tests on human remain and days if not weeks to piece together the material remains of the plane.

The plane crash left small fragments of human remains which were moved to a hospital in Monterrey, the closest major city,  Rivera's brother singer Lupillo Rivera was driven past a crowd of reporters to the area where the remains were being kept. He has not spoken to the press.

Investigators were testing DNA from the remains in order to provide families with definitive confirmation of the deaths of their loved ones.

Alejandro Argudin, of Mexico's civil aviation agency, said it would take at least 10 days to have a preliminary report on what happened.

Plane carrying Jenni and six other-photo credit Michael B citation

"We're in the process of picking up the fragments and we have to find all the parts," Argudin told reporters on Monday. "Depending on weather conditions it would take us at least 10 days to have a first report and many more days to have a report by experts."

In an interview on Radio Formula, Argudin said Mexican investigators weren't sure yet if the Learjet had been equipped with flight data recorders. He also said there had been no emergency call from the plane before the crash.

Authorities, meanwhile, began looking into the history of the plane's owner, Starwood Management of Las Vegas. Another of its planes was seized in September by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in McAllen, Texas.

After the crash rumors spread of possible cartel involvement in the crash, of sabotaging the plane.  Rivera had often spoken out against cartels. 

She is in no way suspected of being connected to drug trafficking or cartels she was a strong advocate against organized crime and the destruction they have caused Mexico. [photo is at last concert in Monterrey shortly before the flight posted on her blog]

Starwood Agency is the owner of the plane. Nevada secretary of state records list only one Starwood officer , Norma Gonzalez , however it is alleged  that  Norma is used as a front for the company which is  owned and managed by Ed Nunez, who is also known as Christian Esquino [at left] and has a long criminal history.

The company is the target of a federal lawsuit, and had one of its planes seized by the DEA in McAllen, Texas in September, according to the Associated Press.

Esquino pleaded guilty in federal court in Orlando, Florida, in 1993 to conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.  Esquino also served two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud involving an aircraft in Southern California in 2004. Esquino's attorney stated in court that his client is  under investigation by the DEA .  Allegations are that Esquino has ties to the Tijuana Cartel.

After his prison stint he was deported to Mexico. 

With grandchildren above daughters below

Rivera is a  Long Beach California native  known as the "Diva de la Banda".  She was immensely popular in the US and Mexico and considered the top female artist in both for her genre of music, “grupero” , a male-dominated Mexico regional style, she had branched out into acting and reality television, as well as being a judge on the popular “La Voz” television program in Mexico.

A 43-year-old mother of five children and grandmother of two, was known for her forthright openness about her struggles growing up in a barrio and  hardships making sure her children had a better life than her own, despite a series of setbacks.
She had recently filed for divorce from her third husband, former Major League Baseball player Esteban Loaiza whom she is still legally married to.

Rivera recently won two Billboard Mexican Music Awards: Female Artist of the Year and Banda Album of the Year for "Joyas Prestadas: Banda." She was nominated for Latin Grammys in 2002, 2008 and 2011.

She appeared in the indie film Filly Brown, which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival, and was filming the third season of "I love Jenni," which followed her as she shared special moments with her children and as she toured through Mexico and the United States.

She also had the reality shows: "Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis and Raq-C" and her daughter's "Chiquis `n Control."

Two of her five brothers, Lupillo and Juan Rivera, are also well-known singers of grupero music. Her parents were Mexicans who had migrated to the United States.

At the Lakewood California home of Jenni’s father Pedro Sr, and Lupillo Rivera, devoted a few words to the media present. "On behalf of my sister Jenni and my family, we thank all the support they have given us, sorry we have not given interviews as it should be, but it is happening because we are not having an easy time, "said the singer obviously deeply shocked, Lupillo took time to talk about his sister, and thanked the fans all the support you have shown to the family this weekend. 

 

"I know you want more, but it's what we have. thank you to the public for all the" tweets ", by Facebook messages, and all you have done for my sister, and soon you will see more things, thanks for all the support. 



Top photo Pedro, Lupillo, Juan and Jenni's father at the Lakewood home

 

Video above with reaction from entertainers

The video above is Jenni's song "Cuando Muere Uno Dama"  [When a Lady Dies].  The song is a reflection of how she anticipates her funeral will be. She also sings about her struggles and her motto of fighting to the death for her five children.

 

She envisioned her funeral as a celebration "“So drink some beer and tequila, turn up the music loud and let some butterflies loose and clap your hands, because that’s how you celebrate when a lady dies.”

 

You can send condolences or leave a message, by linking here

 

Sources used to compose this post: AP, Billboard, Jenni Rivera Twitter/FB/Website, Fox Latino, Univision
 

Reforma, CNN, Diario