A citizen search collective and state authorities discovered two clandestine graves on Sunday afternoon in the Arroyo del Cajoncito in La Paz, bringing the total number of secret burial sites found at the location to at least 12 in just over a month of searching.
The find came during a weekly joint search operation involving the citizen group Búsqueda x La Paz, the State Search Commission of Baja California Sur, and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Enforced Disappearances. Prosecutors secured the site, and forensic services personnel are expected to process the area to determine how many bodies are present and collect identifying details such as clothing.
A Growing Tally at El Cajoncito
Sunday’s discovery is part of a grim pattern. Between March 12 and April 4, the collective and authorities had already found 10 burial sites in the same arroyo, recovering 17 sets of remains: 16 believed to be male and one female. The two new graves bring the El Cajoncito total to 12 since mid-March.
The arroyo, a dry wash on the outskirts of La Paz, has been a focus of searches since 2023. In 2024, the collective located 14 clandestine graves containing 18 victims in the same area. According to Búsqueda x La Paz, at least 96 sets of remains have been recovered in clandestine graves across the state capital in recent years.
Families Urged to Submit DNA Samples
No official body count from Sunday’s find has been confirmed, pending the forensic examination. Búsqueda x La Paz called on anyone with a missing family member to contact the collective for help creating search profiles. The group also reminded families to submit DNA samples to prosecutors or forensic services to aid in future identifications.
The collective conducts field expeditions every Sunday in coordination with multiple agencies. According to El Sudcaliforniano, the search involves the State Attorney General’s Office (PGJE), the National Search Commission, the State Search Commission, and the Specialized Investigation Prosecutor’s Office.
The disappearances crisis in Baja California Sur has drawn national and international attention. In a 2025 report, the founder of Búsqueda x La Paz, Iris Manríquez, described years of pressure on authorities before the government agreed to support the searches. The group has vowed to continue until every missing person in the state is found.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias, with additional details from El Sudcaliforniano.