The gate, towering at 10 feet and adorned with two rearing white horses, has become a grim symbol of death in Mexico. For dozens of families waiting outside, it offered a tragic sense of hope in their search for missing loved ones.
They were granted access to what local media has dubbed the "ranch of horror," an alleged cartel killing site and training camp located in Teuchitlan, approximately 40 miles from Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara.
Earlier this month, an activist search group discovered what they described as an "extermination camp" scattered with bone fragments, ashes, makeshift crematoriums, and hundreds of shoes, backpacks, and other personal belongings.
This revelation has shocked Mexico, a country that has endured nearly two decades of brutal cartel violence. Although the discovery of mass graves is not unusual, the potential that this ranch was a site of systematic killings has ignited deep horror.
Mexico's top prosecutor has stated it's premature to determine if the site qualifies as an "extermination center," although it has been handed over to federal investigators. The property is enclosed by high walls that impede outside views, with several dilapidated houses and barn-like structures now cordoned off with crime scene tape. Small red, yellow, and green flags mark where authorities found personal items belonging to individuals believed to have been brought there.
This marked the first time that family members of the missing, along with journalists, were officially allowed access to the site, accompanied by representatives from both state and federal attorney general's offices.
Families searching for their loved ones have expressed alarm over the lack of transparency in the investigation—a sentiment echoed across Mexico, where over 124,000 cases of disappearance remain unresolved.
Irma Gonzalez from Puebla state recognized a blue backpack and a sweatshirt belonging to her son, who went missing in 2021, in photos shared online by investigators. "These items give me some peace of mind; if my son died here, I won't search anymore," she said while waiting with others to enter the ranch. Gonzalez voiced concerns for her safety after receiving a threatening call warning her to remain silent.
The powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, believed to operate the ranch, has targeted the search groups that exposed the site, alleging in a social media video that they distorted facts to create a "horror movie" aimed at damaging the cartel's reputation.
Families traveled from across the country to visit, hoping for any remnants of their missing loved ones. "I don't understand what these criminal groups want. Why are they taking so many young people?" questioned Reynaldo Nunez, whose two children disappeared in Jalisco eight months ago.
It remains unclear how many individuals are buried at the ranch or the circumstances of their deaths. Mexico's attorney general, Alejandro Gertz, criticized Jalisco state officials for failing to process evidence or notify federal authorities, despite having known about the site since September.
The situation has cast a shadow over President Claudia Sheinbaum's promise to combat violence and reduce homicides. The focus on Teuchitlan increases pressure on Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October and aims to distinguish herself from her predecessor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has been criticized for inadequate responses to disappearances and escalating security issues.
"I don't consider it to be my Achilles' heel," Sheinbaum stated in a press conference when questioned about the case's management.
As more families arrived outside the ranch demanding answers, tensions escalated. Frustrated after years of waiting for clarity, many began to voice their anguish. "I have found a lot of pain, a lot of tears...but I haven't found my husband," a woman lamented, tears streaming down her face as she awaited entry.