Thread: Mexican authorities 'hostile' in meeting with Ianiero family

Just thought I'd pass this tragic story along to illustrate the kind of superb progress that Fox says Mexico has made in it's Strategic Partnership.

Mexican authorities 'hostile' in meeting with Ianiero family: Greenspan
GILLIAN LIVINGSTON
Last updated by The Canadian Press (CP)
at 21:39 on May 19, 2006, EST.
http://www.cp.org/english/online/full/N ... 9140A.html


TORONTO (CP) - The family of Dominic and Nancy Ianiero is growing ever more frustrated with Mexican investigators and losing hope they'll ever get to the bottom of what happened to the slain Ontario couple, their lawyer said Friday.

The Mexican authorities, who have been criticized for their handling of the case almost from the moment the couple's bodies were found three months ago, are not conducting a proper investigation, Edward Greenspan told a news conference.

Representatives from Greenspan's office and Anthony Ianiero, the couple's only son, met Thursday with Mexican investigators, including Bello Melchor Rodriguez, the state attorney general for Quintana Roo, the part of Mexico that includes the resort where the couple was killed.

But instead of answers, Ianiero heard nothing more than confirmation that the Mexican authorities have done little to solve the brutal slaying of his parents at the posh Barcelo Maya Beach Resort near Cancun on Feb. 20, Greenspan said.

Last month, Rodriguez said the investigation into the murder of the couple was 85 per cent complete, a statement dismissed Greenspan, who described the probe as "irresponsible" and "tragically disorganized."

"It looks to us that this investigation is - at most - one per cent complete," Greenspan said, adding that promised DNA results haven't been completed.

At the meeting Rodriguez was "hostile, unco-operative, unresponsive - as if somehow we were interfering with his life," he said of the 40-minute meeting.

The attorney general was "arrogant, pompous, and downright rude," Greenspan added.

"He acted like a thug."

Ianiero said the Mexican authorities came to Canada with no new information, despite earlier assurances the case would be solved quickly.

"From the family's point of view, we're back to square one," he said.

"We just know that this happened to my parents and there's been nothing done from that point up until now."

Greenspan said Rodriguez has made contradictory statements throughout the investigation and hinted again at the meeting that a Canadian is responsible for the murders.

"The Ianiero family has no confidence in the attorney general, or the Mexican police, or the Mexican justice system," he said.

"The Ianieros are shocked at what the Mexican police have done, saddened what they have not done, insulted that they have been left out of the entire investigation and are frustrated beyond belief at the likelihood that the killers of their parents may never be found."

The Mexican investigation has been dogged controversy, particularly after it pointed to two women from Thunder Bay, Ont., as key suspects.

Cheryl Everall and Kimberly Kim, both single mothers in their 30s, were at the resort when the bodies were found, but have insisted on their innocence.

Questions have also lingered about the handling of vital forensic evidence since video surfaced of hotel cleaning staff washing down the room within hours of the murders - and before investigators had completed their work.

At the meeting, Rodriguez said authorities have enlisted the help of the FBI and Interpol in their search for a security guard who worked at the hotel, but whose name he didn't know, Greenspan said. They had few other details to share, he added.

Rodriguez also promised a report within 10 days, which Greenspan said he doubts will ever be completed.

He called on Ottawa to step in to ensure justice is done, and said he and the family are exploring the possibility of legal action against Rodriguez, the police, the hotel and others in hopes of sussing out information and keeping pressure on the authorities.

The family also has hired a Mexican criminal lawyer who has power of attorney to act on the family's behalf in Mexico and to liaise with police officials there, Greenspan said.

Ianiero, meanwhile, said the family is determined to see justice done.

"We can't attempt to think of the good times when this is all that we see in our minds, is what happened to them," he said.

"It's extremely difficult to go on not having any answers, not knowing what happened to them. I don't think I'll ever give up."


© The Canadian Press, 2006

And unfortunately we will probably be seeing more stories like this involving Americans now too.