MATA MAYOR CONFRONTED BY MOTHER OF SLAIN SIBLNGS; DEMANDS FOR JUSTICE IN THE CASE RAIN ON HER PARADE

By Juan Montoya
If Matamoros Mayor Letty Salazar thought that crossing the Gateway Bridge and participating in the Charro Days International Parade would shelter her from the violence in her city, she was in for a surprise.
As Salazar's car drove up Elizabeth Street and approached 10th Street (by the HEB), she was met by the mother of the three U.S. siblings who were abducted and murdered, allegedly by members of the Grupo Hercules, Salazar's personal body guards and paramilitary force.
A large sign in blood-red colors demanded justice from Letty Salazar, and called her an "asesina" (murderer).
The mother of the three Americans, Raquel Alvarado of nearby Progreso, Texas, has accused the mayor of responsibility for the deaths of her children. But the mayor herself has now distanced herself from the police unit, and disavowed responsibility for it.
"Dame la cara, asesina!," shouted Alvardo at her as Salazar passed by. "Demandamos que se haga justicia por la muerte de mis hijos."
Salazar remained stoic and sought to ignore Alvarado's challenge.
State officials have said that nine Hércules officers are under investigation, and the Mexican federal justice department has taken over the case.
Alvarado’s ex-husband, Pedro Alvarado, who lives in El Control in the western boundaries of the Matamoros municipio, interviewed witnesses to the kidnapping of his children, Erica, 26, Alex, 22, and José Angel, 21, and Erica’s boyfriend, Mexican citizen José Guadalupe Castañeda Benitez, 32.

He learned that men in military-style uniforms had beaten their victims, put hoods over their heads and taken them away in armored trucks bearing the coat of arms of the Matamoros city government. The officers identified themselves as part of Grupo Hércules and warned witnesses against speaking about what they had seen.
Pedro Alvarado continued searching for his children for the next 16 days, during which time he and his son Pedro Jr. discovered the victims’ missing vehicles, a Jeep Cherokee and Chevrolet Tahoe, at a car dealership and customs brokerhouse run by her director of Social Development Luis Biasi.
The plates had been removed but some of the owners’ belongings remained inside.
After a heated argument with the lot’s manager, the latter relented and the cars were moved to the street, but not until he had made a phone call. Members of Grupo Hércules soon showed up, leading the Alvarados to believe they had been the recipients of the call.
Biasi was later arrested and jailed on charges of money laundering and was freed after posting a substantial bail. When Salazar introduce the Grupo Hercules, Biasi was named as one of its commanders.
Alvardo's call for justice has been supported by U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela who has asked the Mexican government n for an accounting on the murdered siblings and 85 other missing American citizens in northern Tamaulipas. He has reportedly invited her to testify before the congressional committee investigating border violence.
To see the report published in Tamaulipas press, click on to the link: http://tmpnoticias.com/2015/02/28/momentos-tensos-habitantes-de-control-y-progreso-gritan-asesina-a-leticia-salazar-en-desfile-internacional/