Wife of slain El Monte civic leader didn't think drug war would touch her family
Betzy Salcedo cited an old Mexican saying: He who doesn't owe anything has nothing to fear. She always figured that people who had nothing to do with drug trafficking would not be targets in the country they loved.
The wife of Agustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo, the El Monte civic leader abducted and killed in Durango, Mexico, during a vacation with her, talked to The Times' Mexico City Bureau chief Tracy Wilkinson about what happened.
"We were just going out with a group of friends," Betzy Salcedo said, speaking slowly and casting her eyes downward. "You are careful, you look around, but you never think this kind of thing can happen ... to innocent people. We were having a good time. Then we were in the mouth of the wolf."
Hours later, Bobby Salcedo was dead, hauled away from the bar with five other men, their bodies dumped in a dried-grass field on the outskirts of town.
Arrangements were being made Saturday to repatriate Salcedo's body. The 33-year-old, who was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, was an assistant principal and school board member in El Monte.
His slaying underscores the random volatility of the violence in Mexico and the ease with which the pain it causes can seep past the country's borders.
EDITOR'S PICKS:
This is a terrible story as these crimes in Mexico no longer affect drug dealers but innocent people/profesionals that only want to go back to visit friends and family in the country they were born in. My grandmother fears going back to her home town because of these crimes. I have uncles that are lawyers and aunts that are Dr's there that wonder if it will happen to them. It's sad that we do not want our children visiting a country where our grandparents came from and to learn of the rich history, tradition and beauty that Mexico has. Because of such a horribly corrupt govt and police force where most are "involved" in collecting $ from these killers, how can you ever find and convict these criminals? Then to also have them come here and also kidnap is insane. I feel for my family as I have a great uncle who is a Dr and he had 2 grandsons abducted from a party and killed execution style. They need to round all the scum up, kill them and rid these countries of their bad guys, no questions asked!
Posted by: Garcia | January 03, 2010 at 02:37 PM
My condolences to the Salcedo family.But the truth being all this mess starts at the top.All top officials in Mexico and USA are getting paid.there's alot of money in drugs involved,and they know exactly who's running what,but if they would make a big bust it would mean less money for thier pockets!!!
Posted by: LUPE GARCIA | January 03, 2010 at 03:28 PM
This is just a real eye opener! For all of us, even in the States. If we think things are bad here, Mexico is really bad. Just the though that we don't know, who is next. Along with the drug lords, also the economy it really affects everyone, everywhere. Now we even have to fear traveling to our own country. That's bad, really bad. Hopefully, it all stops. My thought and pray's go out to his family and wife.
Posted by: orangecountyc.c. | January 03, 2010 at 03:54 PM
IMO just about everyone in Mexico is involved with the cartels in one way or another--including "innocent people" who have allowed the situation to evolve by keeping their eyes and mouths shut...silence is complicity. The Salcedo's seem to have suffered from major denial; and the result was tragic. I don't think the Mexican govt can contain the violence; it isn't too far-fetched to imagine calderon asking the U.S. to send reinforcements into Northern Mexico...our government's main priority is to keep its people safe...Mexico's crisis makes us all vulnerable.
Posted by: Tara | January 04, 2010 at 01:52 AM
This is very sad and I am sorry for her family's loss. Her husband will not have died in vain if his death helps us realize that legalizing marijuana will not lower the threat of violence from the drug cartels to people anywhere, including Californians. Those who say so are hoping that since the voters were stupid enough to vote for Prop 215, they are stupid enough to vote for even more drug access. If you like what dispensaries brought to your neighborhoods, vote for legalization. If not, VOTE NO.
Posted by: Vote No | January 04, 2010 at 03:31 PM
very sad....Mexico is a scary place
Posted by: upthecreek | January 04, 2010 at 10:12 PM
I read an author once who said "History has shown that no significant social change ever occurs without collateral damage."
Maybe it is time to take your freedom and control of your lives back from the oppressors and "warriors" that you have allowed to supervise your nursery.
I suggest you hook up with "Law Enforcement Against Prohibition" at http://www.leap.cc .
People want freedom. Open your eyes, and find out what your "government" is doing in your name. Did you hear that airports in other countries are only concerned with passenger security on flights going to America? America is the target of the whole world's hatred. That's what your government has done in your name.
And you are responsible for that government. Go figure your options.
Posted by: Jim Angleton | January 05, 2010 at 11:21 PM