197,871, This story has been shared 150,959 times. The attack happened Monday near Rancho La Mora on the border between Sonora and Chihuahua in a remote, mountainous area where the Sinaloa cartel has been engaged in a turf war with another gang. Dawna Ray Langford, who was driving an SUV with her nine children inside, was slain nearby along with her two sons, Trevor, 11, and Rogan, 3. Relative of Americans Killed in Mexico Says Family Was Used as 'Bait' in Drug Cartel War this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. An aerial view of La Mora ranch, the home of nine Mormons who died after an ambush in Mexico. Family members look at the burned car where nine Mormons were killed in an ambush in Mexico last year. November 24, 2020 | 7:27am | Updated November 24, 2020 | 9:34am. The mothers were driving from Bavispe to a wedding in LaBaron, a community in the state of Chihuahua, when their three vehicles loaded with children were hit by gunfire. She identified her sister-in-law as Dawna Langford, who was traveling in a second vehicle with nine children. The dead and six others injured were all members of La Mora, a decades-old settlement in Sonora founded as part of an offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He states that there can be no mistaken identity as the surviving children claimed that one of the female victims had attempted to identify herself to stop the attack. Among those killed were Christina Marie Langford Johnson, a mother who stepped out of her SUV to confront one of the gunmen. The three moms and six children gunned down by drug cartel thugs in northern Mexico were deliberately targeted, according to a new report. "It's incomprehensible, the evil. The LDS Church posted a statement on its website: "We are heartbroken to hear of the tragedy that has touched these families in Mexico. The alleged boss of a Mexican drug cartel has been busted in connection to the slaughter of three Mormon mothers and their six children last year, according to reports. Benjamin LeBaron, an anti-crime activist who founded neighborhood patrols against cartels, was killed in 2009 in a watershed moment in Mexico's drug war. It was not clear when he was arrested. Biden immediately overturns Trump executive orders, says he got his letter. Pictures on display at a wake for Rhonita Miller and four of her children. Lupita Orduno, a spokeswoman for the Sonora Attorney General's Office, said authorities planned to release more details about the attack Tuesday. It's not the first time that members of the breakaway church have been attacked in northern Mexico, where their forebears settled – often in Chihuahua state – decades ago. Family members visited the scene of the massacre, escorted by members of the Mexican Army. … Leah Staddon, who lives in Arizona, said her nephew's wife and her four children died in the blaze. US family killed on way to wedding in Mexico Several family members were killed during an ambush in Northern Mexico, less than 100 miles from the U.S. border. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights CARTEL killers who butchered nine Mormon women and children in Mexico are fighting the most barbaric drugs war in the country’s blood-soaked history. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. © 2021 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. This story has been shared 197,871 times. As Governor, I will do everything to make sure this does not go unpunished and those responsible pay.". 150,959, This story has been shared 134,722 times. CJNG cartel members get ambushed in Michoacán, Mexico Pregnant woman and men accused of theft have hands amputated by CJNG cartel Man beheaded by rival cartel in Mexico 134,722, © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Benjamin LeBaron, an anti-crime activist who founded neighborhood patrols against cartels, was killed in 2009 in a watershed moment in Mexico's drug war. Her 7-month-old daughter, Faith Langford, survived. I don’t understand how someone could do that.". The victims were members of La Mora, a decades-old settlement in Sonora state founded as part of an offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 70 miles south of Douglas, Arizona. Sitemap So far, more than a dozen alleged cartel members have been arrested. Your Ad Choices The ambush on Dawna Ray Langford, Christina Marie Langford The arrest in the northern province of Chihuahua was confirmed by the local Secretary of State for Public Security, Emilio García Ruiz, who said Montes had already been flown to Mexico City to be charged before a judge, according to Entrelineas. The site where nine Mormon women and children were killed in Mexico last year. ... whose brother Benjamin was killed by cartel gunmen in 2009, claims that the attack was targeted. A father calls for wild west-style militia 'posses' after his daughter and his four grandchildren were killed by Mexican cartel hitman on November 4 in the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico identified one of the victims on his Facebook page, 13 officers killed, 9 wounded in Mexican police convoy, Mob ties mayor to back of truck, drags him through town, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. A suspected drug cartel boss has been arrested in connection with the killing of a Mormon family in Mexico last year. Roberto González Montes, the The ambush scene stretched for miles. Your California Privacy Rights Gunmen have killed nine members of the same US Mormon family in an area notorious for drug traffickers and bandits. A mourner holds a rememberance card at the funeral ceremony for Dawna Ray Langford, 43, and her sons Trevor and Rogan. The reputed La Linea cartel leader "El 32" is accused in the massacre in Mexico of members of the LeBarón family of dual U.S.-Mexican citizens. Staddon said her sister-in-law's oldest son, a young teenager, hid the smaller children behind a tree, then walked back to the family's ranch for help. MEXICO CITY – Nine members of a family with dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship –three mothers and their young children – were killed in a shooting attack that relatives suspect might have been a case of mistaken identity by Mexican drug cartel gunmen. Eight children were found alive after escaping from the vehicles and hiding in the brush; several had bullet wounds or other injuries. A family member, Kendra Lee Miller, tells NBC News that 8-month old twins were killed in the attack. In 2009, Benjamin LeBaron, an anti-crime activist who was related to those killed in Monday's attack, was murdered in 2009 in neighboring Chihuahua state. Privacy Notice The Security Committee of Sonora confirmed late Monday that authorities in Sonora and Chihuahua were investigating an attack that occurred earlier in the day involving a burned vehicle and the kidnapping of several people. One of the vehicles exploded in flames. 302 *HOT ASSASSIN* KILLED IN *CARTEL SHOOTOUT* = FEDERALES WON . Nine members of an extended Mormon family have been killed by a Mexican drug cartel. The alleged cartel members were arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime Investigation, the Secretary of National Defense, the National Intelligence Center and the navy, El Diario said. Johnson was traveling in a third vehicle with her baby, Staddon said. Mexican forces, with strong U.S. support, focused on capturing or killing cartel leaders. Suspected drug cartel ambush:13 officers killed, 9 wounded in Mexican police convoy, More news in Mexico:Mob ties mayor to back of truck, drags him through town, "As a mother I feel anger, repudiation and deep pain for what cowards did in the mountains between Sonora and Chihuahua," she wrote. Thanks for contacting us. The investigation involved municipal and state police, the state attorney general's office, the army and the National Guard, which launched an air and land operation in the area where the incident occurred, according to a written statement provided to The Arizona Republic. Terms of Use In a massacre that shocked people around the world, three American women and six children were slaughtered by drug cartel sicarios in northern Mexico on Monday. : Devine, Chrissy Teigen slammed for 'tone deaf' inauguration tweet, Mitch McConnell's betrayal hurts the nation: Goodwin, Watch: Trump delivers farewell speech celebrating legacy, My Pillow reportedly dropped by big retailers over Mike Lindell's Trump visit, All-Clad discounts luxury cookware up to 70 percent off for VIP event, Top antivirus software Malwarebytes extends 40% holiday discount, These anti-blue light items will prevent eyestrain and help you sleep better, 18 affordable ways to pamper your dog or cat this year, Make it through 2021 with one of these top-rated meditation apps, Whale puke is worth a big 'chunk' of cash, Armie Hammer spoken to by police over secret Instagram video. Contributing: The Associated Press. It was not immediately clear what role the trio is accused of playing in the slaughters of the nine, who were part of a convoy of 17 ambushed while driving to a wedding in the border state of Sonora. Benjamin LeBaron (left) and Luis Widmar Stubbs (right), who are members of the same Mormon community as the family killed on Monday by a Mexican cartel, were also murdered … This story has been shared 197,871 times. She said they told her that after gunmen killed her sister-in-law and two children, they opened the door and saw more children and let them go. She was trying to verify from relatives in Mexico exactly how many people died. Members of the Fundamentalist Mormon group were ambushed while driving in three vehicles, with authorities believing a drug cartel may be responsible. Staddon originally thought 10 relatives had been killed. The nine killed Monday were connected to the LeBaron family, which has repeatedly been victim to drug cartel violence in Mexico. A 21-year-old Mexican cartel assassin — known for flaunting her curves and dangerous weapons on social media — was gunned down in a shootout with authorities, according to new reports. We've received your submission. The massacre allegedly came during turf warfare between Montes’ La Línea and the rival Sinaloa Cartel that was previously led by Joaquin ” El Chapo” Guzman, according to the outlet, citing an Attorney General investigation. © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Mormon man who lost family in Mexico ambush hails arrest of cartel 'boss', Feds explain decision to drop drug charges against ex-Mexican defense secretary, Gangster busted in Mexican cartel massacre of Mormon moms and kids, Once-standout DEA agent says he conspired with drug cartel, Biden put on a show of 'unity' — will he stick to it? Rhonita Miller, 30, was also killed along with her four children, including 8-month-old twins. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez and Daniel González on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT @azdangonzalez. He was arrested alongside Eulalio Domínguez Alanís and Santiago Casavantes Radovich, who is known as “El Condor,” the sources said. Relatives say their family members were ambushed on the way to a wedding in Mexico, possibly in a case of mistaken identity by a drug cartel. All about the Florida home Trump will live in after the White House, 'I love what they did': Snoop Dogg on Trump granting clemency to pal, Melania Trump steps out in $3,700 orange dress after landing in Florida, Dog imitates owner's limp in heartwarming show of 'sympathy'. "I don't know what kind of monsters dare to hurt women and children. Staddon said the travelers belonged to a fundamentalist Mormon ranching community that has lived in Bavispe for more than 40 years. The governor of Sonora, Claudia Pavlovich Arellano, said on Twitter that as a mother, she felt "deep pain" for the victims and vowed that the "cowards" would not go unpunished. ‘The Mandalorian’ vs. ‘The Boys’ vs. ‘Star Trek: Picard’ vs. ‘Tiger King’: What Was The Biggest Streaming Show of 2020? Mexican authorities said Tuesday that nine people died and four children were injured in the attack, but Mexico's Public Safety Secretary said six children were injured and another one might be missing. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. All of the victims were apparently related to the extended LeBaron family in Chihuahua, whose members have run afoul of the drug traffickers over the years. "It's devastating," she said. This story has been shared 150,959 times. ‘RHOSLC’ star Jen Shah on the dangers of calling women of color ‘scary’. One person was in custody Wednesday, but many questions remained unanswered surrounding the massacre that took the lives of nine family members in northern Mexico. This story has been shared 134,722 times. Christina Ricci files for restraining order against James Heerdegen. She said Miller's four children who died inside the car were ages 8, 10 and 4-month-old twins, a boy and a girl. Did Garth Brooks get hair plugs for Joe Biden’s inauguration? President Donald Trump tweeted about the attack Tuesday morning, offering the Mexican president U.S. help "to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth.". The alleged boss of a Mexican drug cartel has been busted in connection to the slaughter of three Mormon mothers and their six children last year, according to reports. Mexico: Gunmen kill US Mormon family members President Trump has urged his Mexican counterpart to accept help from the US "to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth." Roberto González Montes, the alleged leader of La Línea, who is known as “El32” or “El Mudo,” meaning the mute, was arrested as part of a huge multi-agency investigation into the murders in Mexico last November, sources told El Diario on Monday. Though it is our understanding that they are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our love, prayers and sympathies are with them as they mourn and remember their loved ones.". Staddon identified her cousin as Christina Johnson. The FBI has opened an investigation into the massacre of... Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Eight children survived, Miller says. Staddon said she learned later Monday that her sister-in law and her cousin had been killed. Johnson's baby was found alive inside the vehicle, Staddon said. Another relative, Julián LeBaron, identified one of the victims on his Facebook page as Rhonita María LeBaron. Staddon gave her name as Rhonita Miller, 33. Staddon said her brother discovered the smoldering, bullet-ridden vehicle.