Ciudad Juárez, February 3, 2026 – The District Attorney’s Office for the Northern Zone announced that the first 10 investigation files for fraud against a funeral home linked to Crematorio Plenitud in Ciudad Juárez will be judicialized during February 2026. This development comes as authorities continue their efforts to bring justice to families affected by the discovery of 386 bodies at the crematorium.
First Fraud Cases Against Funeral Home to Proceed
District Attorney Carlos Manuel Salas confirmed that these initial cases target one of the funeral homes that subcontracted services from Crematorio Plenitud. He explained that not all affected families chose to file complaints, as many reached reparatory agreements and subsequently withdrew their criminal proceedings after recovering the money paid for funeral services.
Salas noted that while a significant number of initial fraud reports were made, the number of cases progressing to the judicial stage is smaller due to families prioritizing the reimbursement of payments. “Of all the fraud complaints, the number that continues is minimal; many people expressed that rather than going to trial, they wished to recover their money,” he stated.
70 to 80 Formal Complaints Filed
Meanwhile, the State Attorney General, César Gustavo Jáuregui Moreno, reported that between 70 and 80 formal complaints were filed. However, some of these files are still being strengthened to prevent them from being dismissed by judges. “The number hovers between 70 and 80 complaints; not everyone wanted to enter this scenario, many families indicated that recovering the remains of their loved one was enough,” Jáuregui Moreno added.
Penalties Exceeding 200 Years Sought for Bodies Found
Regarding the main criminal process, Attorney Salas informed that the Public Ministry is prepared to initiate the intermediate phase, having concluded the integration of the accusations. He specified that for the 386 bodies found at Crematorio Plenitud, an accumulated sentence exceeding 200 years in prison will be sought. This is due to a real concurrence of crimes, meaning an individual penalty for each body found. “We are talking about nearly 400 bodies; when multiplying the penalty for each one, it widely exceeds 200 years,” Salas emphasized.
Reparatory Agreements for Non-Serious Offenses
Authorities clarified that, as this is not a serious crime, the implicated funeral homes can access reparatory agreements, provided they cover the expenses incurred by the families for a service that was not adequately provided. The State Attorney General’s Office reiterated that investigations continue, both criminally and in terms of victim support, with the objective of guaranteeing justice and reparation for the affected families.
This ongoing investigation highlights the complexities of legal proceedings involving multiple victims and the balance between criminal prosecution and civil reparations. The judicialization of these first cases marks a significant step forward in the quest for accountability and justice for the families impacted by the Crematorio Plenitud scandal.
