Authorities Investigate if Burned Bodies Found in Reynosa Are Members Of Grupo Fugitivo

Authorities investigating the disappearance of members of regional Mexican band Grupo Fugitivo may be pursuing a criminal case for possible homicide after five burned bodies were reportedly found at a nearby ranch just days after the group went missing.

Grupo Fugitivo vanished on May 25 shortly after performing at a private event in the Riberas de Rancho Grande neighborhood. Since then their whereabouts are unknown.

As the search continues, a grim discovery has raised new concerns. According to reports cited by Infobae México, posts on Facebook and X alerted users to what appeared to be human remains at a remote ranch in Reynosa.

Local media reported that the bodies found were in an "advanced state of calcination" and were taken to the Tamaulipas Forensic Medical Service for analysis. As of Thursday, the Tamaulipas Attorney General's Office had not issued a formal statement.

The band's van was found abandoned shortly after they disappeared. It showed no signs of violence, but the trailer used to transport their musical equipment was missing.

Desperate for answers, the musicians' families have organized protests and roadblocks, including a demonstration at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and a recent vigil at Reynosa's cathedral, where dozens gathered to demand a thorough and transparent investigation.

During the vigil, local outlets reported a statement from a person who identified himself as a relative of one of the band members who claimed one of the musicians was safe. "It's been said that all are missing, but one of the vocalists is safe," the person said. "Five people are actually missing: four musicians and their manager."

The case has sparked confusion and outrage in Mexico, especially after several media outlets reported that the musicians had been found alive and were under government protection. Those claims were quickly denied by relatives, who said they have received no official information or contact from authorities.

Sony Bernal, the ex-wife of one of the band members, criticized local officials for their handling of the case in an interview with journalist Azucena Uresti.

"We condemn the statement made by the governor of Tamaulipas (Américo Villarreal Anaya), who said the boys had been found," Bernal said. "That is completely false, just as we condemn the audio sent by the state security secretary claiming that the boys were already on their way to the attorney general's office."

The investigation unfolds amid rising violence in Tamaulipas, a state long plagued by cartel-related conflict. Just nine days before the band's disappearance, a major shootout between rival criminal groups rocked the state capital, Ciudad Victoria.

Musicians and performers in Mexico have increasingly become targets of violence in areas controlled by organized crime. In March, two members of the regional Mexican band Doble Alcance were killed while performing at a private event in Tijuana.