A grieving family is worried that their missing loved one may be among the many potential victims discovered on a ranch in Mexico, where charred remains were uncovered after she was enticed by job offers.
On March 5, disturbing images from an abandoned ranch in Jalisco, Mexico, captured global attention as a volunteer group searching for missing persons found what is reported to be a mass grave.
The ranch, known as Rancho Izaguirre and situated approximately 90 miles from Puerto Vallarta, contained three underground cremation ovens, numerous bone fragments, and other horrifying evidence, including thousands of personal belongings such as shoes, clothing, and identification cards. Locals have referred to this site as the “Auschwitz of Mexico”.
‘DREAM SALARY LURE’
Rubi, who preferred not to share her last name due to safety concerns, expressed her family’s anxiety as news about Rancho Izaguirre spread on social media, rekindling their search for her sister. Merari Noemi Garcia Mejia, only 19, disappeared on May 20, 2024, after receiving a suspicious WhatsApp message from someone claiming to offer her a transformative job outside Jalisco.
“They promised her 6,000 pesos (about $250 USD) a week, accommodation, meals, and even personal training,” Rubi explained. She raised doubts, citing that such a salary seemed unrealistic for someone lacking a high school education. Despite her concerns, Mejia sought employment after her relationship ended, arranging for her mother to care for her child while she worked.
“She was always joyful and was a vital part of our family, spreading happiness wherever she went.”
Rubi, Sister of Merari Noemi Garcia Mejia
Tragically, Mejia never arrived to visit her son one weekend. Family members speculated that she had been seen getting into a black car while carrying her belongings. After filing a missing person report, they learned she was last located at a bus station in Guadalajara, but no further contact was ever made.
FINDINGS AT RANCHO IZAGUIRRE
When Rubi first learned of the discoveries at the ranch, she recognized items that resembled her sister’s belongings, including white Nike sneakers and a duffle bag shown in an online broadcast. The heartbreaking moment came when they found a Bible identified as belonging to her sister, leading Rubi to fear the worst.
Mexican authorities have indicated that identifying remains might be complicated due to extensive damage from high cremation temperatures. While Rubi’s family has not officially declared Merari dead, they remain resolute in their search. “We still hope to find her,” declared Rubi. Alejandro Gertz Manero, Mexico’s attorney general, is expected to give a preliminary report about the investigation on March 26.
