Mexican Cartel Issues Apology, Turns in Members After Murder of Americans

The Mexican cartel responsible for kidnapping and murdering two Americans last week issued an apparent apology.

The Details: The apology letter was found along with five apparent cartel members whose hands had been tied. It addresses "the society of Matamoros, the relatives of Ms. Areli, and the affected American people and families." Areli was a local woman who was killed by a stray bullet during the incident.

Key Quotes: "We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events," who displayed "lack of discipline," the letter reportedly reads. It also states that those involved broke cartel rules of "respecting the life and well-being of the innocent." U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday that the DEA and FBI "are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on." 

For Context: Cartels sometimes issue apologies in these situations for political reasons, according to multiple sources, though the sincerity is questionable. Some officials believe the cartel mistook the Americans for Haitian drug smugglers; Mexican authorities are reportedly probing the possibility the kidnapping occurred because the cartel believed the Americans "encroached on their turf."

How the Media Covered It: Some right-rated sources, such as Fox News (Right bias), highlighted past drug-related convictions against two of the four Americans as possible grounds for the cartel to have suspected that the group was involved with the illegal drug trade.