Family Members of Grupo Fugitivo Criticize Investigation Of Band's Murder, Demand Transparency

Family members of Grupo Fugitivo, the Mexican regional music group whose members disappeared on May 25, are again criticizing the investigation of their case, saying the evidence shown to them is not conclusive.

Infobae detailed on Thursday that they are listing several aspects of the investigation that don't add up and call for more transparency.

The band, well-known in Reynosa, regularly performed at bars, private parties and event. They vanished shortly after playing a private show over two months ago.

Shortly after, authorities detained nine individuals following the discovery of burned bodies at a ranch in Reynosa, which they said belonged to the band members. Other people were later detained as well, but family members have consistently rejected official versions, arguing that DNA tests had not been completed and no formal identifications had been made.

During a Facebook livestream in mid June, the mother of Francisco Xavier Vázquez Osorio, one of the missing musicians, publicly questioned the official version of events.

"I want to know why the prosecutor's office says my son is dead," she said. "They don't know if it's him. They don't have my DNA. I haven't seen him. They haven't told us anything, and we're the first ones who need to know."

The report from Infobae noted that body parts shown to the families didn't identify the men clearly. The prosecutor's office told them they had conducted DNA tests and three of the remains matched, but families said they are not valid because not all of them gave DNA samples and there were no clear identification proceedings.

Regarding the detentions, the families said that many were conducted without warrants and there were also abuses and contradicting and seemingly coerced statements. The man accused of being the main perpetrator has also rejected testifying in the case.

Families also claim they have received messages threatening them to stop their search and not give any more interviews about the case.

As a result, the families continue to demand a transparent investigation, including new DNA samples and for the case to be taken by the attorney general's office.