Enrique Camarena was an undercover DEA agent who served in the United States Marine Corps. On February 9, 1985 Camarena was abducted near the U. S. Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico. A little while later captain Alfred Zavala, a DEA informant was abducted. The abduction of these two men led to one of the largest investigations conducted by the DEA. Many suspects were arrested in the United States and Mexico. Primer Commandant Pavon-Reyes of the (MFJP) Mexican Federal Judicial Police was assigned to the case immediately which much hesitance.
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Two suspects were quickly identified, and were brought in for questioning. They were released two hours later by Mexican officials. This investigation was long and plagued by problems. Many suspects were arrested in the United States and Mexico. Some of the forensic evidence that was found in the Enrique case included: hair samples, soil samples, clothing items, finger prints and fibers. The steps that were followed by the crime scene investigators were not effective. Crime scene investigators returned and proceeded to evaluate the scene where the bodies were originally found.
A limited investigation was conducted due to the fact that it had been discovered that the bodies were dumped there after being murdered. This was determined by taking samples from the soil. What was abstracted from the bodies did not match that of the crime scene. Crime scene investigators also checked for any significant traces of body fluids near the burial site, in which none was discovered. Ron Rawalt was a forensic geologist assigned to the Washington DC laboratory. He used soil samples from the body of Camarena and from the site where his body was located and tested them.
The test proved that there was plenty evidence that the body was previously buried somewhere else and then exhumed. This evidence proved that Camarena was killed in a different location based on the body fluids found on the body and the mixing with rock, soil material. “Soil samples collected at the scene where the body was “found” in Michoacan contained relatively coarse greenish to black basaltic glass; thus the body had been exhumed and moved to a new location. ”(Rogers, 1992) This case also involved scientist from the Smithsonian Institution who assisted the forensic geology unit.
They conducted field studies that narrowed down the location of where the original grave site was located. This technology proved that the body was moved and enabling investigators to search the true crime scene area. “. Several factors were taken into account in the search; specifically, the preserved ash flow needed to be at least 6 to 8 feet thick with rhyolite present, needed evidence of a recent grass burn because of charred plant material, and needed the same mineralogy and size distribution as the material collected from the body. (Rogers, 1992)
Thanks to this forensic unit, and the use of cadaver dogs the original grave site was located which contained the same rock and mineral samples that were found on the body. The United States put pressure on the Mexican Federal Police to investigate the disappearance of Camarena. This led to deceit by the MFJP. They conspired with drug dealers and had the bodies moved from the original site and placed near a farm to cover up.
The farm was raided by MFJP, killing those on the farm claiming they found who was responsible for the murders. The biggest mistake was allowing the MFJP take over the investigation in the first place. Evidence was destroyed. The crime scene was contaminated and routine procedures were ignored. “Because this site had been a completely uncontrolled crime scene, contaminated by both police personnel and onlookers, only a limited crime scene search was conducted. ”(Saferstein, 2011) The bodies were decomposed and this hindered the investigation.
Investigators were able to use fingerprints on one of the bodies to identify Camarena. The other body was identified by dental records. Pathologists were able to determine the cause of death to Camarena concluding he died of blunt forces to the head.
