The bodies of five members of the Mexican regional band Grupo Fugitivo were found in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, near the Texas border, on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The musicians had been missing since Sunday, May 25, following a performance. Authorities have arrested nine suspects, allegedly linked to the Gulf Cartel, in connection with the incident.
The musicians, aged between 20 and 40, were abducted around 10 p.m. on Sunday. They were traveling in an SUV to a venue for a scheduled performance. According to Tamaulipas state prosecutors, the band arrived at a location that turned out to be a vacant lot instead of the expected concert venue. Their bodies were later discovered on the outskirts of Reynosa.
The missing musicians were identified as Francisco Xavier Vásquez Osorio, 20; Nemesio Antonio Durán Rodríguez, 40; Livan Edyberto Solís de la Rosa, 27; Víctor Manuel Garza Cervantes, 21; and José Francisco Morales Martínez, 23. Grupo Fugitivo was known for performing at regional parties and dances, specializing in Mexican regional music such as corridos and cumbia.
During a news conference, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica confirmed, “Law enforcement arrested nine individuals considered likely responsible for the events.” The suspects are reportedly members of Los Metros, a faction of the Gulf Cartel operating in Reynosa. Authorities confiscated nine firearms and two vehicles during the arrests.
Family members reported receiving ransom demands after the musicians disappeared. The band last communicated with relatives on Sunday night, stating they were en route to the performance venue. Local media suggested the bodies were burned, but authorities have not confirmed the condition of the remains or the cause of death.
The incident led to widespread public outcry in Tamaulipas, a region long plagued by cartel violence. Families organized protests, including a blockade of the international bridge between Reynosa and Pharr, Texas, on Wednesday. Protesters later gathered at a local cathedral to pray and make offerings for the musicians.
Investigators used video footage and mobile phone tracking to trace the musicians’ last movements. The band’s vehicle was found abandoned shortly after their disappearance, with no signs of violence, but the trailer used for their musical equipment was missing.
Reynosa has seen increasing violence since 2017, fueled by internal disputes among criminal groups vying for control over drug trafficking, human smuggling, and fuel theft operations. The city is a major crossing point between Mexico and the United States.
In Mexico, musicians have increasingly become targets of cartel violence, especially those performing narcocorridos, songs glorifying drug cartel leaders. Although it is not confirmed if Grupo Fugitivo performed such music, the genre has attracted scrutiny from officials and law enforcement on both sides of the border.
This incident is part of a pattern of violence against musicians in the area. In 2018, two members of Los Norteños de Río Bravo were kidnapped and later found dead on the highway connecting Reynosa to Río Bravo, Tamaulipas. In 2013, 17 musicians from Kombo Kolombia were executed by alleged cartel members in Nuevo León.
The U.S. State Department continues to advise against travel to Tamaulipas due to crime and kidnapping risks, noting that heavily armed criminal groups frequently patrol border areas with limited law enforcement presence.
Recently, the Trump administration has taken steps such as revoking visas for Mexican musicians accused of promoting criminal violence. In April 2025, members of Los Alegres del Barranco had their visas revoked after displaying an image of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes during a concert.
Since 2006, Mexico has recorded over 480,000 deaths related to drug violence and organized crime, with approximately 120,000 people currently classified as missing or unaccounted for, according to official statistics. Tamaulipas remains one of the most dangerous states in Mexico due to ongoing cartel activities and territorial conflicts.
