Authorities in northern Mexico discovered 383 bodies improperly stored at a private crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, approximately 10 miles south of El Paso, Texas. The grisly discovery was made on June 30, 2025, after police received reports of foul odors in the area.
The bodies were found stacked indiscriminately across multiple rooms of the Plenitud crematorium facility in the Granjas Polo Gamboa neighborhood. Eloy Garcia, communications coordinator of the Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office, described the scene as bodies that were “just thrown like that, indiscriminately, one on top of the other, on the floor.” All 383 bodies had been embalmed but never cremated despite families paying for cremation services.
Garcia indicated that the bodies were deposited irregularly in the crematorium and were not cremated as promised. Authorities estimated some remains had been stored at the facility for up to five years, with most having been there for approximately two years.
Of the recovered bodies, forensic officials determined 218 were male, 149 were female, and 16 remained undetermined. The bodies of four minors, including two babies, were found among the remains. Authorities have identified 15 bodies by name and four others through tattoos or amputations.
The crematorium provided services to six funeral homes in Ciudad Juarez. Families would conduct mourning services at funeral homes before the crematorium collected bodies for what was supposed to be cremation. Instead of receiving ashes, relatives were given unspecified “other material” while the crematorium likely charged funeral homes for services never performed.
On July 1, 2025, authorities arrested two individuals in connection with the case. Jose Luis Arellano Cuaron, the crematorium owner, and Facundo Martinez Robledo, an employee, were detained and charged with improper handling of cadavers. A judge ordered both men to remain in preventive prison ahead of their court hearing scheduled for July 4, 2025.
Chihuahua State Attorney General Cesar Jauregui Moreno announced that if convicted on all counts, the defendants face prison sentences ranging from eight to 19 years. The investigation will extend beyond the two arrested individuals to determine if others, including officials responsible for inspecting such facilities, bear responsibility for negligence or criminal behavior.
Jauregui Moreno characterized the scene as “Dantesque,” invoking imagery of hell from Italian literature. He met with families of 89 individuals who came to the state prosecutor’s office seeking information about their loved ones. The Attorney General assured families they would receive comprehensive care and support in making decisions regarding their deceased relatives.
Garcia attributed the situation to carelessness and irresponsibility by the crematorium owners, noting that such businesses understand their daily cremation capacity limitations. He emphasized that facilities cannot accept more bodies than they can process. One crematorium administrator had previously turned himself in to prosecutors before the main arrests.
The Chihuahua crematorium possessed all required permits to operate legally. However, the discovery highlights ongoing challenges in Mexico’s forensic system, which has been overwhelmed by high numbers of bodies requiring processing, personnel shortages, and budget constraints.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any of the recovered bodies belonged to victims of criminal violence. Mexico has experienced years of crisis in its forensic system, saturated by violence linked to organized crime. Given that families brought the bodies to funeral homes before crematorium collection, officials believe it unlikely that any represent missing persons cases.
The investigation will be comprehensive, according to Jauregui Moreno, who promised to provide dignity to the recovered bodies, identify all remains, and allow families to decide their loved ones’ final disposition. Prosecutors are considering charges of mistreatment of corpses and potential fraud for denial of services.
This case occurred during a period of increased violence in Mexico, with 20 bodies, several decapitated, found on a highway bridge in Sinaloa state just one day after the crematorium discovery was announced. The Sinaloa incident involved conflicts between factions of drug cartels in the region.