Body Count Rises in Mass Graves Found in Mexico
Forensic experts have found 13 more bodies buried in shallow graves in northwestern Mexico. Officials have been unearthing mass graves across the country, and the body count is now up to 126.
In the northwest state of Sinaloa, the bodies are believed to be victims of kidnapping. Two of the victims appear to be female students who went missing in October. One was identified as a doctor of a nearby town who went missing in August.
Ten more bodies were also found this week in the northeast state of Tamaulipas.
The Zetas drug cartel is believed to be responsible for the killings. So far 17 people have been arrested, and the Mexican government plans on deploying a special team to find the leaders of the cartel.
The Zetas cartel is believed by many to be the most ruthless cartel in Mexico. The criminal organization was founded by former members of Mexican special forces and began as hitmen for the Gulf cartel before starting their own operation.
Head of U.S. Air Traffic Control Resigns
Hank Krakowski, head of the U.S. Air Traffic Organization, has resigned following a series of incidents with air traffic controllers. His resignation was accepted by Randy Babbitt, chief of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
During the past month, several air traffic controllers have fallen asleep while on duty. At Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., two jets had to land without help from the control tower after the controller fell asleep. A similar incident happened earlier this week when a tower controller fell asleep at a Seattle airport. On Wednesday, a controller in Nevada fell asleep while a medical plane was trying to land.
On Wednesday, Babbitt announced that an additional air traffic controller would be on duty for the midnight shift at 27 control towers across the country.
Babbitt has pledged a review of the entire air traffic control system. David Grizzle, chief counsel of the FAA, will take charge of Krakowski's position.
Federal Charges Possible for Abuse of Inmate
Testimony regarding abuse at the Erie County Holding Center is now being heard by a federal grand jury. The altercation involving inmate Stephen Heilmann and jail deputies took place 16 months ago.
Sources told the grand jury about an unprovoked punch that was thrown toward Heilmann when he was surrounded by six deputies in his cell. The deputies had been pressing Heilmann for information about marijuana that had been smelled earlier, which Heilmann said he knew nothing about. The sources also believe that civil rights violations could also be brought to light.
The Holding Center has been criticized in the past for how it handled cases of inmate abuse. Sheriff Timothy B. Howard has been inconsistent in doling out disciplinary action. Of the six deputies involved in the case, three were fired after an internal investigation, but they got their jobs back after filing for arbitration.
It is not clear whether the grand jury is only looking at Heilmann's case or other allegations against the deputies.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
