On January 8, prosecutors said that over 40 suspects have been identified in connection with the massacre of three women and six children from the breakaway LeBarón Mormon community , which settled in Mexico decades ago when the U.S. banned polygamy .
Last month, federal prosecutors met with members of the extended LeBarón family . They consider themselves Mormon but are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . Many of them have dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship .
The General Attorney’s Office did not provide further details on the 40 suspects , many of whom are apparently known only by their nicknames.
Last week, prosecutors announced that three men were arrested and charged with organized crime for drug offenses , though none apparently yet faces homicide charges.
They also said four other suspects are being held under a form of house arrest. One of the suspects is the police chief of the town of Janos , Chihuahua , near where the massacre occurred. The police chief is allegedly part of the La Línea drug cartel.
Julian LeBarón
, who lost relatives and friends in the ambush , confirmed the police chief had been arrested and added, “That should be very worrying to everyone.”
“Who vets them?” LeBarón asked. “He (the police chief) was there for 13 years”, he said, questioning how state authorities could not have known the man was working for a drug cartel .
Also, many members of the extended family have questioned why Mexico’s strict gun laws prevent them from having firepower equal to the cartels ’ and many have now moved to the U.S.
“The police have a local monopoly on weapons and they participate in the murder of women and children,” LeBarón said.
Authorities have suggested a drug cartel was responsible for the ambush .
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