383 Uncremated Bodies Found in Ciudad Juárez Plenitud Crematorium; Two Charged, Families Received Fake Ashes, UN Calls for Investigation

Authorities in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, uncovered 383 embalmed bodies stored in deplorable conditions inside the Plenitud crematorium, a private facility serving six local funeral homes. The discovery followed anonymous tips and complaints from residents about foul odors. The bodies, some dating back to 2020, were found piled indiscriminately in multiple rooms, with many not cremated despite families having paid for cremation services. Instead, relatives were reportedly given urns containing fake ashes, often described as soil or small stones.

The crematorium had been previously shut down twice in 2020 and 2022 due to similar complaints. Investigations are ongoing into possible sanitary violations, fraud, and negligence by the crematorium operators and associated funeral homes. Two individuals, the owner José Luis A. C. and an employee Facundo M. R., have been detained and formally charged with offenses related to illegal handling and storage of human remains. The Chihuahua State Prosecutor's Office is working to identify the bodies, with 27 identified so far, including four minors. The case has sparked outrage among hundreds of families seeking answers about their loved ones' remains and has drawn calls from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for a thorough and independent investigation. Authorities have suspended operations at five funeral homes linked to the case, and over 700 families have come forward suspecting they received false ashes. The scandal has highlighted systemic failures in regulatory oversight and funeral service practices in the region.