Mother's revenge: the woman who broke the installation and defeated the mafia (10 photos)

A mother's love for her child is unconditional. And for the sake of children, a woman is ready to do anything, even risking her own life.





The small town of San Fernando, in the Mexican state Tamaulipas, a specific place. Ruled here by a criminal cartel "Los Setas", the basis of the illegal business of which is narcotic substances.



San Fernando

Naturally, the road of such a criminal community is paved many corpses. In parallel with the main activity bandits discovered for themselves another non-dusty way to earn money - kidnapping for ransom. It is clear that in order to return a loved one the inhabitants were ready to give everything, paying any money.

Disappearance of Karen Martinez



Los Zetas symbol

On January 23, 2012, 20-year-old San Fernando resident Karen Martinez was kidnapped by members of the Los Zetas cartel and, acting according to the usual scheme, demanded a ransom from the mother of the girl Miriam Rodriguez Martinez.

The 54-year-old woman owned a small business. That's why the bandits expectedly assumed that she would silently pay. But the criminals against which even the police had no cases of successful detention and subsequent punishment, they did not yet know who they were facing.



Blue color - Los Zetas coverage area

Miriam first paid the cartel representative $2,000. dollars. But he got the money and stopped communicating. After other bandits called the woman, demanding a smaller amount and promising to let her go. daughter. Miriam paid, and then realized that she had chosen the wrong tactic.

Moreover, the woman was smart and realized that the chances of returning the child is almost zero, because a lot of time has passed. And she decided become an avenger and executioner, trying to prevent the deaths of other children and avenge Karen.

The woman took matters into her own hands, started interviewing witnesses, surveillance and went out to one of the bandits named El Junior. seasoned the mafia felt shadowed, began to hide. Miriam even had to use false documents during surveillance, make up and change appearance. But in the end, having collected enough evidence, she handed over material to an honest old-school cop who agreed to give business move. El Junior was arrested.

And Miriam went to the next person involved in the kidnapping. A then the collected data and intuition told her that to her friend Elvia Betancourt is involved in the disappearance of her daughter. The presentiment did not deceive the woman: Elvia turned out to be the mistress of one of gang members. New materials lay on the table of the policeman. Later the investigation will show that ransom calls from kidnappers produced from the house of Betancourt.

mother's revenge



Miriam Rodriguez Martinez

Almost three years have passed since the beginning of the investigation and until discovery of a huge burial on an uninhabited ranch. The place was issued by one of detainees - 17-year-old Jose Gansales (in total, Miriam helped in search and capture of 16 cartel members, 13 of whom were involved in daughter's death). Karen was among the 73 bodies.

The avenger was finally able to bury and mourn her child, the search for the killers of which took years.



Evidence and materials gathered by Miriam

One of the criminals - Enrique Flores hit the religion. Miriam figured him out and, before the police arrived, detained him in a church where started to follow. The guy begged for mercy, but the woman just left in his face: "Where was your mercy when you killed my daughter?"

She kept another killer at gunpoint for an hour in a dead end between houses, waiting for the arrival of the police.

Big heart and big deal



Thousands of people disappeared during the existence of Los Zetas

The woman became a human rights activist and founder public movement "Parents of the Missing", initiating serious structure. But Miriam understood very well that the mafia is like ubiquitous octopus, whose tentacles penetrate into all organs - ruling, supervising, controlling.

By declaring war on the cartel and taking part in the arrest of such number of its participants, she actually signed her own death warrant. But death is bravewoman was not afraid and said more than once that she had long died with her daughter.



Miriam's grave

The killers chose a symbolic day for the massacre of the avenger - May 10, 2017 - Mother's Day. Miriam was found near the house by her husband. The woman's body was pierced with 12 bullets. In her hand she held a small pistol, worn for protection. And which I didn't get to use. One the killers will soon be shot by the police, the rest will go to jail.



Son of Miriam Louis

The case of a brave woman was continued by her son - older brother deceased Karen Louis. In the central square of Rodriguez's hometown a memorial plaque was erected in her honor. Movie released in 2021 "Civil", which was based on the story of Miriam.



Shot from the film "Civilian"