Mexico: 150 bodies buried in mass graves probe ordered

Mexico authorities are investigating whether the officials of forensic services illegally transferred some 150 bodies from morgues to two mass graves, on Friday, the prosecutors said.

An investigation has been launched by The Morelos state prosecutor’s office following the release of a video showing in the village of Tetelcingo forensic officials in white protective suits exhuming bodies.

In December 2014, the video was recorded by a murder victim’s family, that had sought the exhumation of his body. In the pits in 2013, the corpse was among some 150 others that had been buried.

Mexico: 150 bodies buried in mass graves probe ordered

“We will review whether (the forensic officials) acted within the protocols required by law,” Morelos chief prosecutor Javier Perez told reporters.

Perez did not say how many former and current officials are under investigation.

The forensic services as they can bury bodies in mass graves, there are a series of health, legal and administrative procedures to follow.

“Unfortunately, the forensic services of the prosecutor’s office do not have a big enough area” to hold many bodies, he said.

On Friday, in Tetelcingo, the state’s human rights commission began its own investigation and said more than 140 bodies were dumped in the pits.

Oliver Wenceslao Rodriguez family who made made the video, asked that his body be exhumed after his families conducted their own investigation to find him.

In May 2013, Rodriguez was kidnapped and his body was found 10 days later in a ravine.

The exhumation of the family recorded despite the opposition of the authorities. The families said they counted 150 bodies wrapped in plastic and most lacked a file number.

One of the Mexican states, Morelos, most affected by drug violence plaguing in Mexico, including murders and kidnappings.