For anyone who has missing loved ones in Mexico I got a call from the consulates office today asking for DNA to assist the morgues in Matamoros area to help make sure my son in not in the mass graves they have discovered. If you have not been contacted to do this I would urge you to call the consulates office to find out how to go about this.
Went to Matamoros Mx. on Monday to give the DNA sample. The American Consulates office called and they had someone to escort me to the morgue and do the translations for me. I was very shocked and at the same time pleased that they finally did something. Now with over 150 bodies to sort thru its a wait and see game. So please keep John in you prayers that he is not there.
Only the difference this time is the last line in the story... The FBI is investigating.....
I am curious as to what would get the FBI involved when they say they can't in the cases of John and Arturo and the others.... Is it because this is the first case with a "credible witness"? Or do you think the government is finally starting to acknowledge there is a problem???? Any ideas???
Just heard from John's mother, she fell and broke her shoulder last night. Not sure if they are gonna operate or just going to let it heal in a sling, she's waiting to see the surgeon that operated on her other shoulder. This will be a hard week for her anyway, John has been missing six months on Thursday which is also Cinco de Mayo, a big holiday in Mexico, then of course, Sunday is mother's day.... Please say an extra prayer for Debbie this week.... Thanks....
How sad, Renee. Let Deb know we're thinking about her here in NJ and I will mention her in the blast message I send out this week.
Tuesday it will be 2 years that Joe's gone. I'm going to use the date to launch Phase 2 of my assault the assault on my senators, as well as to announce the start of a national campaign to use the State Department Reauthorization Act to start addressing the larger issues.
I was interviewed by the BBC this week - here's the viewing info. Pls share widely:
You will be able to watch the piece online at bbc.com/fasttrack from this weekend. It will air on BBC World News at the following times:
Saturday at 0430, 1230 and 1930 and Sunday at 1930 GMT
So I think if my maths are correct it would go out in California at 2030 on Friday, 0430 and 1130 on Saturday and 1130 on Sunday. Sometimes the broadcast times fluctuate if there's any big, breaking news story. "
OMG POOR DEB ,I KNOW HOW SHE MUST FEEL,JOHN MISSING,HER GETTING HURT UGH JUST TO MUCH TO HANDLE. ME THINKING THAT MY DAD WILL BE MISSING 6 MTHS JUST PUTS A KNOT IN MY THROAT AND I FEEL THAT IM GOING TO BREAK DOWN ANY MINUTE.
Adriana: When you have a minute, you should reach out to Farrah (actually, Renee -- it probably would be a good idea if you did too). She told me she's working on something about families being asked to identify bodies -- might be something you can contribute insight into.
I hope all's going well for you and your family (as well as can be expected...you know what I mean). All these anniversaries are difficult, as are the holidays. I hadn't realized the 2-year anniversary of Joe's disappearance was so close until I started hearing ads for Mother's Day -- nice association, NOT!
You guys are always in our prayers. Be well and stay strong.
Thank you both.... I will pass them along to Deb...Farah has asked me to call her closer to the time, but when I mentioned it to Deb last night, she said there was not way she would be up to going anywhere for an interview about the 6 mos. or even up to seeing anyone... at least until after they actually figure out what they are going to do with her shoulder. And I have not heard from Farah, they have had her on other stories recently. I will check on that online broadcast, Jeff, since we don't get the BBC on our cable here, but it sounds like maybe something very good can come of it... We will be thinking of you on Tuesday with extra prayers....
Another missing person.... Mexican citizen married to an American citizen living in Mission TX... went missing on highway 2 between Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa. Family has only had one phone call, demanding the ownership papers on the Tahoe that the woman was driving. Story says FBI can't get involved because woman was Mexican citizen, even her husband and four children are all US citizens. Video link has a commercial first.... http://www.krgv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?articleID=175544
OMG I SEE THE GIRLS CRY AND I THINK OF ME AND MY SISTERS AND THE PAIN WE ARE GOING THRU AND I KNOW HOW THEY MUST FEEL.THESE PEOPLE ARE LAZY ,I KNOW SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ,JUST THAT THEY DONT WANT TO DO ANYTHING.
Please reach out to the family and let them know they're not alone. We need to get a Texas campaign going -- get family and friends and the rest of the network calling your senators about her, John, Arturo, Ron, and the rest. This is insane.
John's mother put in another request to the American Consulate to ask the police in Matamoros for the status update. They said they would file a formal request with the police, but so far nothing has been heard back.
Did anyone see any of the report by the two retired generals in front of the congressional committee about the border being a war zone... and see the reaction of our local representatives as they pooh-poohed the idea and said that the area is getting safer.... I wonder what walled compound they live in or are they just trying to protect the reputation of the area for fear it will hurt the tourist business?
Two recent murders here in the valley have been reported as Cartel hits by the POLICE... on the US side of the Rio Grande River, not in Mexico... but the US govt. still says they have the situation under control, and that there are no incursions.....
The news crew at KRGV do almost daily reports on what is happening here but it is like it is reported in a vacuum.... Why is it not carried on the national networks??? How many of these stories have you seen?
It has now been a year since John disappeared.. and we have no more information now about what happened than we did a year ago. We just see the statistics of missing and killed continue to rise. The news reports that members of the various groups fighting in Mexico are moving their families to "safe zones" in the U.S. all along the border from California to Texas. Does any of this make headlines beyond the border states?
It doesn't make the national news, I'm sorry to say. If you live in the NY metro area, you're more likely to be reading about the Penn State mess than about the sorry and dangerous conditions on our southern border. We need Texans, New Mexicans, Arizonans, and Californians to engage in a more concerted effort to build awareness and action. It's not easy, but it's the only way anything real will happen.
I live in Abilene Texas it's never been on the news here. Until I joined this group I knew there was fighting going on in Mexico but never knew how bad it really was
Thank you both for your comments, I was beginning to think I was being paranoid. Our local ABC affiliate channel 5 is running a monthly series on this entire issue... I have no clue why the national ABC has not done anything about spreading the contents of this excellent series. These reporters have spend hundreds of hours on their reports and film about it. It's like there is a giant wall around the border area... "If we don't see it, it is not happening... and if it is not happening, then there is nothing to worry about!" seems to be the opinion... Last night the report is how this "border war" has spread to Houston.... It's time that the nation wakes up before it is in their backyard!!
Rene: Is your ABC affiliate KRGV? I also think with Perry running for the GOP pres nom, maybe a coordinated press by our Texas families could help elevate the issue. But we're probably talking drastic, visible action, like a march on Austin. Maybe reach out to Tiffany Hartley and try to build on the work her and Robert's family have been doing. Texas is ground zero.
Here is another link... and five pages of blog... some is culled from our newspapers, some is not... maybe some of our "missing" families can find new information for their searching....
Story in our local newspaper...I wonder if it even got out of the Valley. I'll be so glad when presidential elections are over and we can try and get REAL news again across our country... Despite several excellent programs running on cable TV channels, the rest of the country still seems to be under the "cone of silence"
Spring Break is coming... If you have loved ones coming to South Texas, they are safe in Texas and on Texas beaches, but make sure they don't cross the border for ANY reason!!! Please share these stories across the country... Right now, only the border states are feeling the immediate results... But the cartels are moving their families to Texas cities for safety, and who knows how long our Border Patrol and police agencies will be able to stop the cross-border violence. There have already been a couple of incidences...
also a brief story about fighting continuing in the streets of Matamoros tonight and the American Consulate urged people to stay indoors but no link is available yet....
and another news report of gun battles all around Reynosa which is across the border from the City of Hidalgo, TX, and less than 10 miles from McAllen...
Farrah did a wonderful 2-year missing follow-up with John's mother tonight... I don't know how long it will stay on this page but look for Few Answers 2 Years after Man Disappears in Matamoros http://www.krgv.com/video-center/#
Deborah Parks
Apr 12, 2011
Deborah Parks
Apr 19, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Yet another one goes missing.... http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Family-Fears-Relative-Kidnappe...
Only the difference this time is the last line in the story... The FBI is investigating.....
I am curious as to what would get the FBI involved when they say they can't in the cases of John and Arturo and the others.... Is it because this is the first case with a "credible witness"? Or do you think the government is finally starting to acknowledge there is a problem???? Any ideas???
Apr 29, 2011
Jeff Dunsavage
Apr 30, 2011
Adriana Aviles Allen
Apr 30, 2011
Cynthia Scheepstra
It is true about the FBI...they are "aware" of a lot of things.
They are aware that my husband went missing 2 years ago.
Have they done anything ?.....If they have it is definitely behind the scenes and has not produced any results
Apr 30, 2011
Renee Vorbach
May 3, 2011
Jeff Dunsavage
Tuesday it will be 2 years that Joe's gone. I'm going to use the date to launch Phase 2 of my assault the assault on my senators, as well as to announce the start of a national campaign to use the State Department Reauthorization Act to start addressing the larger issues.
I was interviewed by the BBC this week - here's the viewing info. Pls share widely:
You will be able to watch the piece online at bbc.com/fasttrack from this weekend. It will air on BBC World News at the following times:
Saturday at 0430, 1230 and 1930 and Sunday at 1930 GMT
So I think if my maths are correct it would go out in California at 2030 on Friday, 0430 and 1130 on Saturday and 1130 on Sunday. Sometimes the broadcast times fluctuate if there's any big, breaking news story. "
May 4, 2011
Adriana Aviles Allen
May 4, 2011
Jeff Dunsavage
Adriana: When you have a minute, you should reach out to Farrah (actually, Renee -- it probably would be a good idea if you did too). She told me she's working on something about families being asked to identify bodies -- might be something you can contribute insight into.
I hope all's going well for you and your family (as well as can be expected...you know what I mean). All these anniversaries are difficult, as are the holidays. I hadn't realized the 2-year anniversary of Joe's disappearance was so close until I started hearing ads for Mother's Day -- nice association, NOT!
You guys are always in our prayers. Be well and stay strong.
May 4, 2011
Renee Vorbach
May 4, 2011
Adriana Aviles Allen
May 4, 2011
Renee Vorbach
May 4, 2011
Renee Vorbach
If you missed Jeff on the BBC, you can get it online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/9478002.stm
The focus is Michael Dixon's story, but does talk to other families and there is a very nice segment with Jeff... WTG Jeff!
May 11, 2011
Renee Vorbach
http://www.krgv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?articleID=175544
May 17, 2011
Adriana Aviles Allen
OMG I SEE THE GIRLS CRY AND I THINK OF ME AND MY SISTERS AND THE PAIN WE ARE GOING THRU AND I KNOW HOW THEY MUST FEEL.THESE PEOPLE ARE LAZY ,I KNOW SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ,JUST THAT THEY DONT WANT TO DO ANYTHING.
May 18, 2011
Jeff Dunsavage
May 19, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Farrah Fazal did another fantastic followup.... the video is here:
http://www.krgv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx
click on this link in the left column....
Mother of Son Missing in Mexico Gives DNA to Authorities
Thank you Farrah!!!
May 23, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Jul 2, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Jul 2, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Late breaking news http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=636550
Local TV personality and Catholic priest was killed in crossfire in Matamoros today....
Jul 2, 2011
Renee Vorbach
US citizen kidnapped from her front yard by alleged drug dealers.... http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Investigators-Say-Starr-County...
Aug 2, 2011
Renee Vorbach
GOOD NEWS!!!! She's found and safe!!!
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Kidnapped-Teen-Back-Home-With-...
Aug 3, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Aug 11, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Aug 18, 2011
Renee Vorbach
John's mother put in another request to the American Consulate to ask the police in Matamoros for the status update. They said they would file a formal request with the police, but so far nothing has been heard back.
Did anyone see any of the report by the two retired generals in front of the congressional committee about the border being a war zone... and see the reaction of our local representatives as they pooh-poohed the idea and said that the area is getting safer.... I wonder what walled compound they live in or are they just trying to protect the reputation of the area for fear it will hurt the tourist business?
Two recent murders here in the valley have been reported as Cartel hits by the POLICE... on the US side of the Rio Grande River, not in Mexico... but the US govt. still says they have the situation under control, and that there are no incursions.....
The news crew at KRGV do almost daily reports on what is happening here but it is like it is reported in a vacuum.... Why is it not carried on the national networks??? How many of these stories have you seen?
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Mexican-Military-Redeployed-To...
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/DPS-Releases-Report-on-Border-...
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Lawmakers-Question-Border-Secu...
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/DPS-Warns-Parents-that-Cartels...
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Farmer-Near-River-Says-Thieves...
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Cartels-Using-C4-Explosive/pwa...
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Neighbors-Shocked-at-Man-s-All...
And those are just a few from the past few days...
Oct 15, 2011
Renee Vorbach
This was recently posted online... tell me this is not a war zone.... Matamoros in on the Rio Grande, a bridge span away from Brownsville TX....
http://youtu.be/s_IoQKnbwyU
Oct 15, 2011
Renee Vorbach
It has now been a year since John disappeared.. and we have no more information now about what happened than we did a year ago. We just see the statistics of missing and killed continue to rise. The news reports that members of the various groups fighting in Mexico are moving their families to "safe zones" in the U.S. all along the border from California to Texas. Does any of this make headlines beyond the border states?
Nov 12, 2011
Jeff Dunsavage
It doesn't make the national news, I'm sorry to say. If you live in the NY metro area, you're more likely to be reading about the Penn State mess than about the sorry and dangerous conditions on our southern border. We need Texans, New Mexicans, Arizonans, and Californians to engage in a more concerted effort to build awareness and action. It's not easy, but it's the only way anything real will happen.
Nov 12, 2011
Kristine Wylie
I live in Abilene Texas it's never been on the news here. Until I joined this group I knew there was fighting going on in Mexico but never knew how bad it really was
Nov 13, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Thank you both for your comments, I was beginning to think I was being paranoid. Our local ABC affiliate channel 5 is running a monthly series on this entire issue... I have no clue why the national ABC has not done anything about spreading the contents of this excellent series. These reporters have spend hundreds of hours on their reports and film about it. It's like there is a giant wall around the border area... "If we don't see it, it is not happening... and if it is not happening, then there is nothing to worry about!" seems to be the opinion... Last night the report is how this "border war" has spread to Houston.... It's time that the nation wakes up before it is in their backyard!!
Nov 13, 2011
Jeff Dunsavage
Rene: Is your ABC affiliate KRGV? I also think with Perry running for the GOP pres nom, maybe a coordinated press by our Texas families could help elevate the issue. But we're probably talking drastic, visible action, like a march on Austin. Maybe reach out to Tiffany Hartley and try to build on the work her and Robert's family have been doing. Texas is ground zero.
8
Nov 13, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Yes, it is Jeff....
Nov 13, 2011
Renee Vorbach
I just had an overseas friend send me this link... Why can they see this overseas, but we can't get this information here in the states???? http://borderland-beat.924382.n3.nabble.com/UPDATE-US-CONSULATE-FIN...
Dec 27, 2011
Adriana Aviles Allen
wow so many things on that website
Dec 28, 2011
Deborah Parks
That was a great article Rene. Its a shame we can't get any news like that from here. Thanks for sharing it.
Dec 28, 2011
Renee Vorbach
Here is another link... and five pages of blog... some is culled from our newspapers, some is not... maybe some of our "missing" families can find new information for their searching....
http://borderland-beat.924382.n3.nabble.com/UPDATE-5-4-11-FP-FREES-...
Jan 3, 2012
Renee Vorbach
Story in our local newspaper...I wonder if it even got out of the Valley. I'll be so glad when presidential elections are over and we can try and get REAL news again across our country... Despite several excellent programs running on cable TV channels, the rest of the country still seems to be under the "cone of silence"
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/reynosa-58235-sources-violent.html
Jan 25, 2012
Renee Vorbach
In the local newspaper this morning.....
http://www.themonitor.com/news/reported-58483-shootout-sullivan.html
On the local television station last night, this film clip....
http://www.krgv.com/news/possible-shooting-near-los-ebanos/
How many more???
Feb 3, 2012
Renee Vorbach
Another family missing a loved one... this family is from North Texas and I am afraid that even this close are unaware of the dangers....
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/work-58685-dental-family.html
http://www.krgv.com/news/north-texas-family-worried-about-man-who-w...
How many more before we get help finding our loved ones???
Feb 11, 2012
Renee Vorbach
There were two excellent pieces in today's "The Monitor"... background and a succinct history of what is going on...
http://www.themonitor.com/news/cartel-59178-zetas-gulf.html
http://www.themonitor.com/news/killed-59177-member-gulf.html
Spring Break is coming... If you have loved ones coming to South Texas, they are safe in Texas and on Texas beaches, but make sure they don't cross the border for ANY reason!!! Please share these stories across the country... Right now, only the border states are feeling the immediate results... But the cartels are moving their families to Texas cities for safety, and who knows how long our Border Patrol and police agencies will be able to stop the cross-border violence. There have already been a couple of incidences...
Mar 5, 2012
Renee Vorbach
Another good piece in "The Monitor"...
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/war-59282-texas-gulf.html
Mar 10, 2012
Renee Vorbach
The Monitor for yesterday... http://www.themonitor.com/news/gunmen-62855-matamoros-wedding.html
KRGV tonight... http://www.krgv.com/news/nuevo-leon-mayor-not-backing-down/
also a brief story about fighting continuing in the streets of Matamoros tonight and the American Consulate urged people to stay indoors but no link is available yet....
Aug 8, 2012
Renee Vorbach
Fighting still continues in Matamoros....
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/firefight-62885-matamoros-variou...
Aug 9, 2012
Renee Vorbach
It looks like the violence is on the increase again.....
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/cartel-62976-rift-matamoros.html
Aug 13, 2012
Renee Vorbach
http://www.krgv.com/news/matamoros-endures-5-days-of-gun-battles/
Aug 13, 2012
Renee Vorbach
http://www.krgv.com/news/bombs-explode-near-tv-station-in-matamoros/
and another news report of gun battles all around Reynosa which is across the border from the City of Hidalgo, TX, and less than 10 miles from McAllen...
Aug 14, 2012
Renee Vorbach
Farrah Fazal has another good report.....
http://www.krgv.com/news/shake-up-in-zetas-leadership-could-affect-...
And from the Monitor...
http://www.themonitor.com/news/probed-63327-rural-county.html
http://www.themonitor.com/news/firefights-63311-mexican-mexico.html
Where is the rest of the country when this is happening???
Aug 27, 2012
Renee Vorbach
http://www.themonitor.com/news/alliances-63518-mexico-criminal.html
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/agents-63517-mendiola-patrol.html
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/reynosa-63500-caltrops-drivers.html
Sep 4, 2012
Renee Vorbach
Farrah did a wonderful 2-year missing follow-up with John's mother tonight... I don't know how long it will stay on this page but look for Few Answers 2 Years after Man Disappears in Matamoros http://www.krgv.com/video-center/#
Nov 5, 2012