In a crematorium in northern Mexico, 381 bodies were found. According to the public prosecutor’s office of the state of Chihuahua, the human remains were “thrown on top of each other as merchandise.” Authorities estimate that some remains had been there for two years.
The first bodies were found on Thursday after reports of a stench. Since then, the number of corpses has risen to 381. All bodies have been identified because the death certificates were present.
The bodies were in various rooms of the crematorium. In some rooms, the remains were piled so high that authorities had difficulty opening the door. A body was also found in an old hearse in the crematorium garden, reports Excelsior.
It is still unclear why the cremations were not carried out. Payment would have already been made for the cremations. Relatives would have received other material instead of ashes.
One of the directors of the crematorium turned himself in earlier. The Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses the owners of the company of negligence and irresponsible behavior. Although the crematorium had the correct papers, it had made a mistake before, writes La Jornada. In 2020, the company received a fine, also for careless handling.
The place where the crematorium is located, Ciudad Juarez on the border with El Paso, Texas, is known for its violent crime. The authorities gave no clarity about the origin of the bodies.