Authorities in Juarez, Mexico, have discovered the bodies of an adult and two children inside an abandoned SUV parked at a residence believed to be linked to a jailed funeral home operator. The discovery adds to growing concerns surrounding the city’s funeral industry, which has been under investigation since a mass cadaver scandal earlier this year.
Chihuahua state police responded to a 911 call from residents in the Arroyo de las Viboras neighborhood in west Juarez on Thursday. Upon arrival, officers found the three decomposing bodies inside a single coffin placed in the back of the SUV, which was parked at the corner of Samaniego and Laton streets.
Connection to Suspended Funeral Home
Investigators have linked the home to Miguel Angel A.O., the operator of Funeraria del Carmen, a funeral home under scrutiny for its ties to a now-infamous crematorium where 383 embalmed cadavers were found piled on top of each other in June.
Key details include:
- Funeraria del Carmen is one of five funeral homes suspected of having done business with the crematorium.
- The funeral home’s operating permit had been suspended by Mexican health authorities in October 2023.
- Despite the suspension, one embalmed body was later found at the business, leading to A.O.’s arrest for illicit disposal of cadavers.
- On July 18, a judge ordered A.O. to remain in jail pending trial.
State Police and Attorney General’s Office Involved
The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office released photographs showing the SUV where the bodies were found. The vehicle was parked next to another car covered in dust, indicating both had likely been stationary for a significant period. Authorities have not confirmed how long the bodies had been inside the SUV or when the deaths occurred.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials are awaiting autopsy results and other forensic tests. The discovery raises additional questions about the handling and storage of human remains by businesses operating in the region’s funeral industry.
Authorities continue to investigate whether other funeral homes may be involved in illegal activity as part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with Mexico’s health and burial regulations.
