Administrative director of Juárez police department found shot to death
By Adriana M. Chávez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/18/2008 05:51:37 PM MDT


Silvia Molina (Courtesy of Juarez Municipal Police)The administrative director of the Juárez police department was found shot to death outside her home on Monday in just in the latest string of drug-related murders gripping the city.
Police spokesman Jaime Torres Valadez said Silvia Guzmán Molina, who was in charge of human resources, was killed outside her home at Calle Misión de Carmel and San Juan Capistrano streets in the upscale Las Misiones neighborhood in southeast Juárez at 10:23 p.m. Monday.

"She was very adequate at her job, and that is why her murder is so surprising," Torres said. "We send our condolences to her family."

Investigators said a note was found on her car window alleging that Guzmán hired people affiliated with the Sinaloa drug cartel, which is headed by JoaquÃ*n "El Chapo" Guzman, to work in the police department. Most of the violence in Juárez has been attributed to a war between the Sinaloa and Juárez drug cartels.

Torres said Guzmán first worked for the department from Jan. 7, 2002, to Nov. 3, 2005. She was returned to the department on Oct. 11, 2007.

Guzmán's death has raised more concerns in the department, and Police Chief Roberto Orduña Cruz has instructed the department to support Guzmán's family.

Guzmán's death was only one in the latest wave of violence to strike the city since Saturday, when another woman, Laura Elena RamÃ*rez Chávez, 41, was shot and killed near Guzmán's home. RamÃ*rez's body was found inside a black 2001 Ford Escape SUV with multiple bullet wounds. A few
blocks away, police found a black 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with its windows shot out.
At least 10 people have been killed since Sunday.

An e-mail was also circulating on Wednesday warning of cartel-related violence possibly spreading into El Paso. According to the e-mail, a new cartel "hit list" is targeting Margarita's, Romeo's and Bandoleros in El Paso. The e-mail cautions readers to "use caution."

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.

Online reporter Leela Landress contributed to this story.

Bodies found

Other victims found since Sunday include:


Marcos Abelardo Hernandez Gonzalez, 28, whose body was found lying in the intersection of Doroteo Arango and Martires del Rio Blanco streets at 12:20 a.m. Sunday.

A 35- to 40-year-old unidentified man who was found in the back of a white late-model Jeep Liberty at about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Two men who were found with multiple gunshot wounds at 4:15 a.m. Sunday at Municipio Libre and 5 de Febrero streets in the Anáhuac neighborhood.

A man between the ages of 40 and 45 who was found at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the trunk of a silver Nissan Tsuru in the Cuesta neighborhood. Residents had called police because of a rotting smell coming from the car.

Fernando Osoria Garcia, 36, who was found at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday near Magnolia and Bosque de Aldama streets.

Enrique Garcia, 32, who was found dead near Saguaro and Jilotepec streets near the Juárez airport at 7:50 p.m. Monday.

Clay Barcia Marquez, 50, and Pascual Levario, age unknown, who were found in a home on General Pasual Orozaco Street in the Corregidora neighborhood at about 6:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Antonio Dominguez Lara, 43, who was found dead in a tan 1994 Lincoln Town Car on Tomas Urbina Street in the Division del Norte neighborhood at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was the owner of La Academia bar in Juárez.







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