Police in northern Mexico discovered 381 corpses improperly stored at a private crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, near the U.S. border, according to local prosecutors who announced the findings on Sunday. The bodies were found piled indiscriminately across multiple rooms of the facility, with some remains potentially stored there for up to two years.
Eloy Garcia, communications coordinator of the Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office, confirmed that the bodies were deposited irregularly in the crematorium and were never cremated. Garcia described the scene as bodies stacked in no apparent order throughout various rooms of the building, stating they were “just thrown like that, indiscriminately, one on top of the other, on the floor.”
All 381 bodies had been embalmed, yet families who entrusted their loved ones to the facility received other material instead of the expected ashes, according to Garcia. The forensic breakdown revealed 218 male bodies, 149 female bodies, and 16 of undetermined gender. Initial reports had indicated approximately 60 bodies at the site, but further investigation revealed the significantly higher number.
Garcia attributed the situation to carelessness and irresponsibility by the crematorium owners, emphasizing that such businesses understand their daily cremation capacity. He indicated that facilities cannot accept more bodies than they can process within their operational limits. One administrator from the crematorium voluntarily surrendered to prosecutors following the discovery.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, though authorities have not specified whether any of the discovered corpses belonged to victims of criminal violence. The crematorium is located in Ciudad Juarez, approximately 10 miles south of El Paso, Texas, in an area that has experienced significant challenges related to organized crime activity.
State Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno met with families concerned that their loved ones may be among the recovered bodies. He committed to seeking the highest possible penalties for those responsible and conducting a thorough investigation while minimizing re-victimization of affected families. The prosecutor’s office emphasized its dedication to providing answers to grieving relatives who had trusted the facility with their deceased family members.
The discovery highlights ongoing challenges within Mexico’s forensic system, which has been overwhelmed by high volumes of bodies requiring processing, personnel shortages, and budget constraints. The country has struggled for years with a crisis in its forensic infrastructure, particularly given the impact of organized crime on homicide rates and the resulting strain on mortuary services.
Several crematorium staff members had departed the facility before authorities conducted their investigation. The timeline suggests systematic mismanagement over an extended period, with some bodies potentially remaining uncremated since 2023. The facility’s operations appear to have been compromised by accepting more bodies than could be properly processed through cremation services.
The announcement of the crematorium investigation came one day after authorities discovered 20 bodies in Sinaloa state, several of which were decapitated, highlighting the broader challenges Mexico faces with violent crime and body processing. Four headless corpses were found roadside while 16 bodies were discovered in an abandoned vehicle, with five human heads found in a bag at the scene.
Authorities continue investigating the full extent of mismanagement at the Ciudad Juarez facility and whether additional legal actions will be pursued against those responsible. The case underscores the broader institutional challenges facing Mexico in managing forensic services amid elevated violence levels and resource limitations that have plagued the system for years.
The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to identify the recovered remains and provide closure to families who may have been deceived about the cremation services they purchased. Prosecutors have not released additional details about the timeline for completing identifications or the specific charges that may be filed against the facility’s operators.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/corpses-piled-up-crematorium-near-us-border-mexico/
https://nypost.com/2025/07/01/world-news/mexico-police-discover-381-neglected-corpses-thrown-indiscriminately-around-private-crematorium/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/30/mexico-crematorium-police-381-bodies-ciudad-juarez-ntwnfb/
https://tribuneonlineng.com/381-corpses-found-piled-up-in-mexico-crematorium/
