Bodies of Kombo Kolombia Band Found, a Captive Escaped

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

 UPDATE AT BOTTOM
 

16 Members and 4 others went missing Thursday at least 8 bodies found

 

Authorities of Nuevo Leon state performed an intense mobilization in the municipality of Mina on Sunday afternoon after an anonymous call alerted  the whereabouts of the members of the musical group Kombo Kolombia. The group was kidnapped by an armed group last Friday morning.

 

The police officers received the mysterious call and headed to the location given to them.  At kilometer 92 of the highway to Monclova, a water well (other reports say "mine")  was located and several bodies inside.

      -click to enlarge-

Troopers of the Civil Force, the Mexican Army, and Federal Police secured the area to allow staff of the State Agency of Investigations to perform their work.

 

The clandestine grave was found near a road to El Espinazo community.

 

Credible reports indicate that the l bodies have been found in that location. The anonymous call to the authorities also mentioned the bodies were from members of the Kombo Kolombia band.

 

Other reports mention that the members of the Kombo Kolombia band were tortured and executed. The bodies were dismembered and buried in the clandestine grave.

 

It was after a private performance on Thursday night that the band disappeared from the city of Hidalgo about 80 miles north of Monterrey and 40 miles south of the US border.  On Friday at 4 AM citizens in the area where the bodies were found hear a series of gunshots and vehicles speeding away.

One unidentified member managed to escape and alert the army.  He reports that they were loaded onto a truck at the La Carreta and taken in front of a well/mine at which time he managed to run and jump into a hole and hide.

 

Most of the band members lived in Monterrey and at least one is a citizen of Colombia.

 

It is not known why the group would be targeted, unlike other bands they did not sing narco corridos, songs that glorify drug traffickers.  They stayed away from that genre of music.

 

Authorities are keep quiet and not sharing details but unofficial reports say at least 8 bodies were found at the site.  Keep in mind authorities have only confirmed that 8 bodies were retrieved so far, other details have been from other sources.

The Band's notebook



La Carreta the site of the private performance





The town of "Mina" where the bodies were found

 

UPDATE

Jorge Zambrano Domene , government security spokesman for Nuevo Leon confirmed reports on social networks that indeed one victim  managed to escape,  his captors and certain death, as I reported below. Though he had been beaten, as all the victims have been, he was in good condition and led authorities to the clandestine mass grave. 

4 of the bodies were retrieved Sunday when the search for more stopped, for safety reasons, then resumed today.  More bodies were pulled up however reaching the remaining bodies are proving to be a difficult task due to the depth and structure of the well. 

The exact number of bodies remaining is unknown at this time.   Governor Medina stated that clothes were found that match what the band wore for the performance, he did not elaborate on the significance.  No one in authority has confirmed the bodies being dismembered.

El Norte issues this report in their 7AM report:

One of the musicians, the group Kolombia Kombo , got away from the ranch where his companions were executed and later helped the authorities  locate the bodies. The man reported that he escaped his kidnappers and received assistance  from a trucker , who gave him a ride to a gas station.

 

The musician, who saved his life by his escape, called his family from the gas station and reported the facts asking them to  contact the authorities, he said the kidnappers took the band  members in several trucks  to  kilometer 92 of the highway to Monclova.

The witness reported  that the victims  knelt as their lives were taken  with the "coup de grace "(shot in the head) . The man said he  escaped without the kidnappers realizing he was gone.  He managed to find  assistance with the truck driver, who he told the horrifying story of what occurred.

The musician returned to the crime scene, accompanied by members of the state police .

Federal Police have now joined the investigation and search.

 



 

 

From Billboard Magazine

 

El Poderoso Kombo Kolombia was a young band that over the past three years had made their name known around Monterrey, Mexico, and the surrounding state of Nuevo León. Possessing a seemingly endless wardrobe of band t-shirts, proclaiming themselves alternatively as El Vallenato y el Poderoso Kombo Kolombia, or just Kombo Kolombia, the group’s twelve members got their name out.

They played continuous live dates and also appeared on regional television programs. Teenage fans danced onstage with them during appearances on “El Club del Italiano,” a music and comedy show.

On a Youtube video with footage from “Futbol al Día,” a local soccer program, the musicians, in band shirts, jeans and white sneakers, groove through “Va Que Va,” one of their most requested songs, with accordion, congas, drums, a horn section, electric guitars, keyboards and scraper backing three vocalists.

 As they wrapped up, the show’s host, a white-haired commentator sitting behind a laptop, put his fists in the air and excitedly shouted “Long live youth!” ......read full article and see videos HERE

EVENING UPDATE:

12 Bodies Retrieve from Well

Jorge Domene , security spokesman for Nuevo Leon confirms 12 bodies have been retrieved and four have been identified by family members.

The bodies were taken to the Forensic Medical Service and four of them were identified as: Jose Antonio Villarreal, 39, a native of Monterrey,. Einer Ivan Cuellar Perez, a Colombian, keyboardist. Baudelio José Santos López, 38, a native of Monterrey, saxophonist . Santamaría Victor Angel Cruz, 43, a member of staff. He announced that the work continues, it is assumed that there could be more bodies.
 



Source: El Norte, Neglected War and Chivis