The “Buscando Cuerpos” (Searching for Bodies) collective estimated that the clandestine grave located in the Santa Rita ravine—in the municipality of Tacámbaro, Michoacán—holds the remains of at least 375 people. This projection is based on a count of sacrum bones found at the site, as there is only one such bone per individual.
Margarita López Pérez—an activist, “searching mother,” and former local legislator—explained that excavation work at the site, colloquially known as “La Parotita,” reveals a forensic crisis of profound magnitude. She noted that, due to the frequent fragmentation of the recovered skeletal remains (such as scattered femurs), the formal count relies strictly on sacrum bones; however, recent efforts have also identified two mandibles and cranial fragments belonging to children under the age of three.
The collective, which has been operating in the area for several years, documented the discovery of recent biological evidence, including tissue fragments that still retain hair. All recovered genetic material is transported to specialized laboratories in Mexico City for processing and subsequent DNA profile matching, aiming to find “hits” with the relatives of missing persons.
López Pérez projected that, given the density of human remains buried in the ravine, the recovery, sifting, and forensic analysis operations will continue for at least another three years. She also criticized the interim mayor of Tacámbaro, Alejandro Fuerte García, for the lack of a permanent security and protection plan for the perimeter of the burial site; this leaves the scene vulnerable between the search sessions conducted by the families.
At the institutional level, the activist lamented that Michoacán remains one of the few states in the country lacking specific legislation on this matter. She recalled that during her tenure as a local legislator, a bill regarding the Search for Missing Persons was drafted and approved; it was based on the federal General Law and developed through consensus with civil society organizations.
However, the legislation was vetoed by the state governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla—a decision the former legislator attributed to political obstruction rather than technical flaws, given that the collectives had addressed the required observations at the time.
According to the families conducting the searches, the absence of this local regulatory framework undermines their efforts in two main ways:
Restriction of support: Logistical and operational resources are made conditional or limited when collectives independently identify new areas containing potential biological evidence.
Administrative impunity: There are no effective legal mechanisms at the state level to sanction public officials who obstruct, delay, or fail to carry out investigative and field procedures.
