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Mexican federal authorities take over investigation of new mass grave

The murders are most likely unrelated to the case of 43 students missing since September.

By UPI Staff

CHILAPA DE ALVAREZ, GUERRERO, Mexico, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Mexican federal authorities took over an investigation Friday relating to 11 burned and decapitated bodies found near a rural road in the state of Guerrero.

The bodies, along with a message from the perpetrators, were found by local authorities Thursday. The sign read, "Here goes your trash" followed by expletives, and allegedly signed by a criminal gang.

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Murder investigations are usually handled by state or local authorities, and in this case, Guerrero authorities began the investigation before it was formally taken over by federal officials. The bodies were then taken to Mexico City to be examined by forensic experts.

All 11 bodies were male. Guerrero investigators said "it's worth pointing out that the bodies are missing their cephalic extremity, which were not placed in the immediate surroundings of the find." The bodies were also partially incinerated.

These bodies are most likely unrelated to the case of 43 missing students kidnapped and presumably murdered in September. That incident has sparked intense demonstrations and debate throughout the country.

The town of Chilapa, near the site where the 11 bodies were found, witnessed a violent confrontation between gangs in July, leading authorities to enforce a curfew for several days.

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