Authorities in Baja California Sur recovered six sets of human remains and additional bone fragments from five clandestine graves discovered in San José del Cabo over a single week. The state Attorney General’s Office (PGJE) announced it had completed forensic processing at the burial site, with all remains now headed to laboratories for identification.
Forensic anthropology specialists will analyze the skeletal remains and conduct DNA testing to determine the identities of the dead. The PGJE said it will coordinate with families of missing persons and search collectives throughout the identification process.
Multi-Agency Operation Secured the Site
The operation involved all three levels of government: federal, state, and municipal. The Mexican Navy, Army, and National Guard provided perimeter security while forensic teams worked the site. The State Commission for the Search of Missing Persons and family search collectives also participated in the effort.
The discovery is part of a grim pattern across southern Baja California Sur. Between April 26 and May 1, searchers located three additional clandestine graves in San José del Cabo containing at least four bodies, according to separate reporting. In the nearby city of La Paz, 10 clandestine burials were confirmed in the El Cajoncito arroyo area between March 12 and April 5, yielding multiple sets of remains.
Years of Discoveries Across Los Cabos
The Los Cabos municipality has seen repeated clandestine grave discoveries in recent years. In July 2024, 13 bodies were found in 10 graves in Cabo San Lucas. In May 2024, 18 bodies were found in 14 graves in La Paz. The search collective Búsqueda x La Paz has been a driving force behind many of these discoveries, working alongside state prosecutors.
In 2021, three homemade crematoriums were found in San José del Cabo surrounded by the remains of 28 people. Nationally, the Mexican government counted 5,698 clandestine graves across the country in a 2023 map published by the Ministry of the Interior.
Remains Transferred for Forensic Analysis
The PGJE said all recovered remains from the latest San José del Cabo site will be transferred to forensic laboratories. Autopsies will aim to establish causes of death, time since burial, and identities through DNA matching with families who have registered missing relatives.
The attorney general’s office pledged continued coordination with search collectives and the families of disappeared persons. No arrests related to the burial sites have been announced.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias.