A letter claiming to be from the Mexican drug cartel blamed for abducting four Americans and killing two of them condemns the violence and says the gang turned its own members who were responsible over to authorities.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press through a Mexican state law enforcement official, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel apologized to the residents of Matamoros where the Americans were kidnapped, the Mexican woman who died in the cartel shootout and the four Americans and their families.
Drug cartels have been known to issue communiques to intimidate rivals and authorities, but also at times like these to do public relations work to try to smooth over situations that could affect their business.
The victims were reportedly visiting Mexico to obtain health care, which can generally be more affordable than in the U.S.