Bagged Beheaded Remains Dumped in Culiacán, Sinaloa

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat

The bodies of two mutilated and beheaded men were discovered in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa. 

On August 25, 2021, residents who live on 21 de Marzo Avenue in La Costera neighborhood of Culiacán city, noticed black plastic trash bags filled with large forms had been placed down an alleyway, in front of a mechanical workshop.

According to Riodoce, these witnesses noticed the bags by as early as 9:00am in the morning but no call was made to the authorities at the time. Canal 44 reports that the witnesses did not report the initial discovery because they could not see what the bags contained so they were unsure if it was worth reporting. 

By evening, a call was finally placed to the 911 emergency services line and witnesses reported to authorities their discovery of black trash bags that were now emitting a rotten odor. According to Línea Directa Portal, this call was placed at 5:30 pm. According to Riodoce, the call was placed shortly after 6:00 pm.

Regardless of the time of the call, the police arrived at the reported location on 21 de Marzo Avenue, between Patria streets and the Benito Juárez La Costerita bypass. They confirmed the discovery and requested for ministerial agents to come to the scene, then they cordoned off the area with crime scene tape and vehicles. 

Ministerial agents arrived to process the criminal scene and collect evidence. According to Canal 44, they found that the remains were dismembered and limbs were sticking out of the black garbage bags. 

The black plastic trash bags were tied up with duct tape. Forensic investigations determined that opening the bags at the discovery location would risk damaging evidence so the remains were transferred to the Forensic Medical Service for autopsy still wrapped up inside the bags.

When the bags were opened, the human remains were reportedly in a visible state of decomposition. Both El Universal and Canal 44 reported that the state of decomposition suggested the remains had been killed more than five prior to the discovery. Initial reports had suggested there might be three bodies but it has now been confirmed that there were only two remains in the bags.

There were visible traces of dirt on the bodies and in the bags, which suggested that the bodies were originally buried in a clandestine grave at another location and later exhumed and placed in the alleyway. This suggests that the perpetrators wanted the remains to be found.

Both were thin and relatively young, no older than 28 years of age. Both remains were still wearing blue jeans, one of the remains was also wearing red boxers. Both men were beheaded, whether the beheading occurred pre or post mortem has not been released by authorities. One of the men had his legs cut off and the second man had his hands cut off. 

 The remains will reportedly undergo genetic forensic examinations to compare their DNA with the records of persons reported missing.

Sources: Riodoce, El Universal, Proceso , Sinaloa Hoy, Debate, Canal 44, Línea Directa Portal, Luz Noticias Article 1, Article 2