SPECIAL REPORT: Missing In Mexico

by BELO Border Bureau Chief Angela Kocherga

There has been an explosion in kidnappings and killings south of the border. Some of those kidnapped are U.S. citizens, which is prompting a new effort to track down those missing Americans.

Jaime Hervella’s godson disappeared in Juarez in 1994, and there are dozens of other cold cases involving Texas families whose loved ones are missing in Mexico.

When it comes to investigating missing persons cases along the border it is extremely difficult. Often when a case leads to Mexico the trail goes cold.

But now the border state of Tamaulipas will allow the FBI to use DNA samples collected from 100 unidentified bodies in Mexico. The idea: see if any match U.S. citizens who were kidnapped and killed.

“We have an obligation to do whatever we can to bring American citizens back home,” said John A. Johnson of the FBI’s McAllen office.

Hervella feels the same responsibility to help. He created a border association for family and friends of the missing.

The hardest part after all these years: seeing the mothers.

“When you see the mothers. And I turn around. I don’t know how you do it. I keep on working as best as I can,” Hervella said, after breaking into tears.

At 80, despite failing eyesight and other health problems, he is not giving up the search.

He and others hope the limited DNA testing will expand borderwide, and that the desert will at last reveal some long-buried secrets.

Right now the FBI has 75 open cases involving Americans kidnapped in Mexico, but they suspect that number could be higher.