Mexican Cartel reportedly apologizes for kidnapping, killing Americans

The Mexican cartel allegedly responsible for kidnapping four Americans and murdering two in the border city of Matamoros last week turned in five of its men and apologized for the “mistake” on the morning of Thursday March 9, reports VICE.

Mexican Cartel reportedly takes responsibility and apologizes

The notorious Gulf cartel, reportedly known as the Scorpions Group, left a note alongside five men who were beaten up and had their hands tied inside a black pick-up truck. The note asked the “American families and people in Matamoros” for forgiveness after their mistake of killing and kidnapping four Americans last week, according to sources in Matamoros and news reports.

Mexican Cartel note (Photo: VICE)

“The men responsible for these actions acted under their own will and lack of discipline against the CDG [Gulf Cartel] rules. We apologize to the family of Miss Arely and the rest of the American families,” the note signed by the Scorpions and Gulf Cartel said.

According to a report by ABC News, the five men responsible were taken into custody by Tamaulipas State Police, where they remain.

Four American victims

The four kidnapped Americans — Eric James Williams, Zindell Brown and cousins Latavia “Tay” McGee and Shaeed Woodard — drove Friday (March 3) morning into Matamoros, in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas just south of Brownsville, Texas. McGee had traveled from South Carolina to Mexico for a cosmetic medical procedure.

McGee, survivor Eric James Williams, and deceased Zindell Brown in undated images.

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Soon after crossing the border, “unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle,” and then put the four Americans in another car and fled, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said.

Mexican authorities ascertain the kidnappers may have wrongly believed the Americans were rival human traffickers, reports ABC News.

The two survivors — McGee and Williams — were found Tuesday (Mar 7) morning in a wooden house in the Lagunona area, outside of Matamoros, Mexican officials said. Williams was shot in both legs while McGee was largely unharmed, family members said.

One of the deceased was also found inside the house, and the second was found outside it, reports ABC News.

During the three days they were held, the Americans were moved to various locations, including a medical clinic, in order to create confusion and avoid rescue efforts, according to the governor of Tamaulipas, Américo Villarreal.

The two survivors were being treated at a hospital in Brownsville following their rescue. The bodies of two Americans killed remain at the morgue in Matamoros, local officials said Thursday.