Chandler police believe the beheading of a 38-year-old man in October is tied to Mexican drug cartel violence for one reason:
Martin Alejandro Cota-Monroy stole 400 pounds of marijuana from the cartel PEI-Estatales/El Chapo and he lied about it in an attempt to save his life.
The beheading of Cota-Monroy and the events leading up to his death were chronicled in a grisly, detailed report released by Chandler police on Wednesday.
The body of Cota-Monroy, a Mexican national, was discovered stabbed multiple times in his apartment in the 300 block of West Fairview Street during the early morning of Oct. 10, according to police. His head was found several feet away in what police believe is the first such decapitation in the United States.
"The cartel hired hit men specifically to kill him," said Detective Dave Ramer, a Chandler police spokesman. "He lied his way out of being killed the first time. He said he was going to put up his house for collateral to pay for the drugs, but he didn't own a house. You're going to say whatever you can to save your life."
Of the four men who police believe were inside the apartment that evening and early morning, one was arrested - Crisantos Moroyoqui, 36 - on suspicion of second-degree murder and hindering prosecution. Moroyoqui, who was discovered by police with blood on his hands and clothing, had not been cooperating with investigators. According to the report, he told police he was too drunk to remember what had happened and that he didn't know the other suspects. He told police he had been living in the apartment building for three to four months.
Authorities are still searching for Juan Campos Aguilar, Jose David Castro Reyes and a man only known to them as "El Joto," a derogatory term for a gay man, in connection with the beheading. Police believe the suspected hit men fled the scene in a 2003 Red Ford Expedition with California license plate No. 6FWR784, and have returned to Mexico.
The report states an enforcement/kidnapping group called "Los Relampagos" was initially sent to kidnap Cota-Monroy and return him to the cartel to face punishment for stealing the drugs. Cota-Monroy talked his way out of it by telling them that the marijuana was confiscated by the U.S. Border Patrol and that he would put up his house as collateral to pay for the pot, according to the report.
Instead, Cota-Monroy fled to a safe house in Phoenix in an attempt to avoid being killed.
The PEI-Estatales/El Chapo cartel then hired three men from the group "El Gio" to kill Cota-Monroy, according to the report. Police believe the three suspected assassins befriended Cota-Monroy and were drinking with him in the apartment before he was killed.
Chandler police said they acquired intelligence from Border Patrol agents about the circumstances leading to Cota-Monroy's death.
Despite initial media reports of the crime being connected to a Santa Muerte (Saint of Death) ritual, authorities don't believe this was part of the religion based in Mexico City.
Candles and a Ouija board, which are used in Saint of Death rituals, were found in the apartment, but police said there's a possibility the men became intoxicated before discussing the religion, according to a neighbor who overheard the men talking in the apartment that evening.
"There's nothing ritualistic about this death," Ramer had said. "He was outright killed."
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tededitedit posted at 8:33 pm on Wed, Mar 2, 2011.
The brutal violence will increase. The "driver's education" type scare movies should now show these bodies and funerals to teens. They need to be told that starting recreational drug use now means "so you can get high some people must die!"
McFade posted at 12:28 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
Ted, do you think that no one has ever been killed for their wristwatch? Maybe there should be videos warning young impressionable teens about the dangers of buying a timex. As we see in your case, ignorance blinds you to the truth of the situation. Actually what your proposed video should say is that the government made marijuana unlawful because of the pressure placed on them by the paper industry (Hemp makes four times the fiber per acre than trees and is easier to grow). And that buying pot supports crime no less than buying fuel for your vehicle. You have a car right Ted? I bet you feel guilty about those poor people who died to give you oil! You can try and scare people with misinformation but in the end the truth is very easy to spot. So Ted, next time you fill 'er up or check the time, remember, someone died for that!!!
McFade posted at 12:30 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
correction, it should say, ... supports crime no more than buying fuel...
Daggette B posted at 2:33 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
Don't forget the people killed on Arizona Highways every year. I've seen some on BeeLine Highway. that would make a beheading look good. Why don't we start there instead of worring about some drug addict theif that put himself in that situation. He knew what he was doing and know one else was hurt let it go before something stupid happens over this fool.Worry about all the senseless killings. This one just makes sense if you really think about it. What about the people who are killed on our Highways for no reason at all how about lets start there!
soricobob posted at 5:33 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
And to think, I gave up Connecticut for this!
DrunkenMonkey posted at 5:44 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
Well Bobby,
if you don't like the heat... move away from the fire!!!
NinjaMom posted at 9:11 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
This is a BORDER issue. The marijuana....whatever. This guy fled Mexico to AZ stay in a "safe house". Safe from what? Drug cartels that do not belong in this country. Let's call a safe house what it is: an dwelling holding CRIMINALS. Because if you're here illegally then you're committing a crime. Think of all the tax money spent investigating this crime, incarceration and deportation. We should send a bill to Mexico. If they can't control their own people they should freaking pay. These idiots came to Arizona and sh*t in our sandbox and our state is left to clean it up.
I'm so d*mn tired of hearing about the border this, the border that. Clamp down. Shut that border, stop prosecuting our border officers for using force to deter illegals. I am a liberal - yup, a crunchy sort of person - but this issue gets me in a flipping twist. Grrrrrr. Ok, rant over.[censored]
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:17 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
WHERE ARE ALL THE DEMOCRATS...LIBERAL..AND PROGRESSIVES ...COMMENTING ON THIS...."MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN"....BEHEADING...HERE IN CHANDLER, ARIZONA ???
Where are all the above...whinning that ..."UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS"...only want to pick tomatoes in Yuma and why can't the Republicans ...bigots and racists...just leave them alone to feed their starving families.
This is what....."MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS"...is all about. The Tucson Liberals (all from California by the way) are wanting a ....."CIVIL DISCOURSE"...about how Arizonians can sit down at a table and calmly and politely discuss giving the 300,000 MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIENS in ARIZONA = AMNESTY..........They are nuts if they think that the Citizens of Arizona want the MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS ...in their hometowns.
IF YOU WANT MORE OF THESE MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN DRUG CARTELS TO......BEHEAD PEOPLE IN YOUR HOMETOWN = VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT..LIBERAL...PROGRESSIVE IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN...A CONSERVATIVE..THEN DON'T VOTE FOR A.......R.I.NO. (REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY) FOR ARIZONA SENATOR IN 2012.
CONGRESSMAN JEFF FLAKE HAS SPONSORED.....AMNESTY BILLS IN THE PAST...AND WILL DO SO AGAIN IF.....IF.....HE IS ELECTED AS OUR NEXT....ARIZONA SENATOR.
NO TO MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS...NO TO MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY.......NO TO ........JEFF FLAKE ! !
asuaguila posted at 11:38 am on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
Liberal here. All I hear is you blaming everyone else for our own problems. If you want the violence to stop then demand an end to all of the drugs being consumed by Americans.
For example, in Gilbert today:
Police later cited Eugene Gimzelberg, 32, of Gilbert, for trespassing and criminal damage after he told them he had gone down the hole after smoking PCP and marijuana and consuming mushrooms a day earlier.
No one is demanding open borders or for anyone to enter unchecked. Even the illegal workers would prefer to be here legally.
And you are the only one complaining about racism.
Slabside posted at 4:28 pm on Thu, Mar 3, 2011.
CLOSE THE BORDER!
manini posted at 8:57 am on Fri, Mar 4, 2011.
I guess ole AZ Governor Jan Brewer was right about "Beheadings" in AZ when she was criticized for supporting SB1070 by "Nappy" Napolitano's Homeland Security nitwits.
I wonder where all those headless corpses in the AZ deserts came from...lost "Canuk" Canadian "snowbirds" hiking in the AZ deserts????...LOL!
AZMomma posted at 3:06 pm on Sat, Mar 5, 2011.
The Cartels are here...they control the illegals living in the shadows, because the illegals are powerless. Vicious cycle. Of course, this one lost his head because he tried to cheat the Cartels. BAD move!
Interesting. The Illegals traded the misery and corruption of their homeland, only to find themselves victims of the Cartel groups they (allegedly) ran from.
Has anyone heard from Grijalva, Mary Rose, Ronstadt etc about how the illegals can be kept safe? What is THEIR plan?
Do they rescue little kids from the kiddy-porn industry, take care of the woman raped in a Drop House? Help the husband/father who is terrorized in a Home Invasion?
Nope.
Richka posted at 2:36 pm on Sun, Mar 6, 2011.
It's not just in Mexico anymore where these beheading take place. It's right next door to us and will continue unless more agressive enforcement is put in place. This type of enforcement needs to start on the border. No more cat and mouse games that our border patrol is forced to play..
I remember when, as a child, along with other friends, we raided a farmer's strawberry field. That day I learned a life long lesson not to trespass on anyone's property after looking at the barrell of his gun. Anyone illegally trespassing in the U.S. should also learn to fear the weapons that the border patrol carries. Passing out water, food and supplying medical assistance does nothing but encourage these trespassers to do it over and over again.
EmperorSmith posted at 3:14 pm on Sun, Mar 6, 2011.
story speaks for itself
Freethinker posted at 4:39 pm on Sun, Mar 6, 2011.
asuaguila bleated:
"Even the illegal workers would prefer to be here legally."
What an ugly lie.
If they preferred to be here legally then they would be...you DO realize that thousands of people become citizens every year?
They CHOOSE to BREAK THE LAW. And they continue to break it by committing MORE crimes once they are here.
I know it's a cliche, but what part of ILLEGAL don't you understand?
trigama posted at 8:47 pm on Sun, Mar 6, 2011.
Everyone needs to forward this to Napalitano, obama, hilary, congress and senators!! every morning of everyday until we see some action!!!
iablotter posted at 5:58 pm on Wed, Mar 23, 2011.
This is ridiculous. The majority of the country needs to wake up and start paying attention to how many illegal immigrants are adversely affecting their communities. See more examples at the Illegal Alien Blotter on Twitter @IABlotter.