Authorities in Mexico’s Guanajuato state have uncovered the dismembered remains of 31 individuals at an abandoned residence near Irapuato, prosecutors announced on Monday, August 4, 2025. Initially, officials reported 32 bodies, but after an extensive investigation, they confirmed the total is 31. The bodies were found in plastic bags buried in a shallow grave, roughly 160 miles north of Mexico City.
The Guanajuato prosecutor’s office reported that 15 of the victims have been identified through detailed forensic analysis. The fragmented state of the remains, discovered during a search for missing persons, has made identification challenging.
Members of the collective Hasta encontrarte (meaning: “Until I find you”) visited the site on Monday. One woman, who chose to remain anonymous for safety reasons, stated, “We hope to find our loved ones.” She highlighted their wish to be present at the discovery of mass graves, given the years of uncertainty regarding their missing family members.
This incident is indicative of ongoing violence in the area. In May, 17 bodies were discovered in another abandoned home in the same city. The region has also been the site of recent mass violence, such as a shooting in June that resulted in 11 deaths and about 20 injuries at a neighborhood gathering in Irapuato.
Guanajuato has emerged as Mexico’s most violent state due to territorial disputes among organized crime groups. Much of the violence is linked to conflicts between the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation cartel, a significant criminal organization in Mexico.
Official data reveals the scale of violence in the state. Guanajuato reported over 3,100 murders in 2024, accounting for 10.5 percent of all homicides in Mexico, making it the deadliest of the country’s 32 states. From January to July of this year, more than 1,500 homicides have been recorded, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The state also leads in missing persons cases, with about 3,600 disappearances reported out of over 120,000 cases nationwide. The Mexican government’s current count of missing persons is nearing 132,000 individuals across the country.
Despite being a thriving industrial hub and home to several tourist destinations in central Mexico, Guanajuato continues to struggle with increasing violence. Recent incidents include the shooting of a local official during a basketball game in July and various deadly altercations throughout the year.
In May, an attack attributed to the Santa Rosa de Lima gang resulted in seven deaths, including children, with banners left at the scene. In February, eight people were shot dead on the street, while in January, security forces engaged with gunmen, resulting in 10 suspects dead and three police officers injured.
This discovery comes less than two months after another mass shooting in Irapuato left 12 people dead. Organized crime groups often use secret graves to dispose of victims, a practice that has become more prevalent with rising territorial conflicts.
The Trump administration has designated the Jalisco New Generation cartel as a foreign terrorist organization due to its involvement in drug trafficking and violence. The ongoing conflict between this group and local gangs like Santa Rosa de Lima has turned Guanajuato into a conflict zone, affecting residents and visitors alike.
Authorities continue to work on identifying the remaining 16 victims found at the site. The complex forensic efforts required to identify the fragmented remains emphasize the severity of the violence in the region and the challenges faced by families searching for missing relatives.
This discovery adds to the growing evidence of systematic violence in Guanajuato, where criminal organizations operate largely unchecked despite government efforts to restore stability. The state’s dual role as both an economic center and a hub of criminal activity presents ongoing challenges for law enforcement and residents.