In the quiet woods south of Mexico City, the sound of shovels and machetes breaks the silence.
Families are digging—not for treasure, but for truth.
They’re searching for loved ones who vanished without a trace, feared to be buried in the dense forests of Ajusco.
Imagine combing through the earth, hoping for closure yet dreading what you might find.
That’s the painful reality for people like 40-year-old Araceli Olmedo Cruz, who’s been looking for her son Benjamin since April 2024.
“Since it’s a secluded area, it makes it easier for people to come and dump the bodies,” she said grimly.
Mass Grave Search
Activists, forensic teams, and around 430 volunteers have joined forces in what could uncover as many as 150 bodies.
Across Mexico, more than 127,000 people are officially missing.
The epidemic of disappearances is tied to years of drug-fueled violence that has left entire families shattered.
Some still cling to hope. “We had searched in urban areas, put up posters,” said Arnulfo García.
He joined the operation to find his mother, Placida. “I just want to know something.”
The search continues until October 31—but for many families, the waiting has already lasted a lifetime.
