Authorities in Mexico have confirmed that the bodies of five missing musicians have been found in Reynosa, a city just south of the Texas border. The victims were members of Grupo Fugitivo, a popular local band known for performing regional Mexican music at parties and community events.

The musicians had been missing since the night of May 25, when they were reportedly kidnapped around 10 p.m. while traveling in an SUV to a scheduled performance. Investigators with the Tamaulipas state prosecutor’s office said the remains were discovered on the outskirts of Reynosa. Prosecutors also announced the arrest of nine suspects believed to be linked to a faction of the Gulf Cartel, which operates heavily in the region.

Authorities have not released details about the cause of death and have not commented on local reports claiming the bodies had been burned.

Grupo Fugitivo played regional Mexican music—a broad genre that includes styles like cumbia and corridos. Some modern artists in this genre have drawn controversy for songs that appear to glorify drug cartel figures, often casting them in a Robin Hood-like light. It remains unclear whether Grupo Fugitivo performed such songs or if they were simply victims of the ongoing cartel violence that has long plagued Reynosa and much of Tamaulipas.

The last known communication from the musicians was a message to relatives saying they were en route to their performance. After that, they went silent.

The incident has sparked outrage and mourning across the region. Protests erupted in Reynosa, with demonstrators demanding justice and answers. On Wednesday, protestors briefly blocked the international bridge between Reynosa and Pharr, Texas, before gathering at a local cathedral to pray and honor the missing musicians.

Reynosa has seen a surge in violence since 2017, fueled by infighting among criminal groups vying for control over drug trafficking, fuel theft, and human smuggling operations.

This tragedy echoes a similar case in 2018, when two members of Los Norteños de Río Bravo, another musical group from the area, were kidnapped and later found murdered along a federal highway between Reynosa and Río Bravo.

As the investigation continues, families and fans are left grieving yet another devastating chapter in a region that’s seen too many.