Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


2

Mourners Hail Mormons Killed by Mexican Hitmen

Share

(Newser) – More than 1000 mourners yesterday honored two American Mormons who were tortured and murdered in retaliation for helping Mexican authorities nab drug gangsters, reports Reuters. Gunmen broke into Benjamin LeBaron's home in northern Mexico earlier this week, tortured him in front of his family and shot him dead along with his brother-in-law. LeBaron was part of a large breakaway Mormon community that originally settled in Chihuahua in the 1920s. Members have been increasingly targeted by Mexican drug gangs in kidnappings.

Relatives and friends attend funeral services for Benjamin LeBaron and Luis Widmar.
Relatives and friends attend funeral services for Benjamin LeBaron and Luis Widmar.   (AP Photo)
Relatives and friends attend funeral services for Mormon anti-crime activist Benjamin LeBaron and Luis Widmar, cut down earlier this week by drug gang gunmen in Mexico.
Relatives and friends attend funeral services for Mormon anti-crime activist Benjamin LeBaron and Luis Widmar, cut down earlier this week by drug gang gunmen in Mexico.   (AP Photo)
A woman holds a picture of Mormon anti-crime activist Benjamin LeBaron, left, and Luis Widmar, who were killed this week in Mexico by drug hitmen.
A woman holds a picture of Mormon anti-crime activist Benjamin LeBaron, left, and Luis Widmar, who were killed this week in Mexico by drug hitmen.   (AP Photo)
Relatives and friends comfort each other during funeral services for Mormon anti-crime activist Benjamin LeBaron and Luis Widmar.
Relatives and friends comfort each other during funeral services for Mormon anti-crime activist Benjamin LeBaron and Luis Widmar.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
2 comments
VIEWING:
 
kokuaguy
Jul 10, 09 4:33 AM CDT
This community sounds fascinating. I'm reminded of an essay I read not long ago about the extensive archaeological work financed around that time in Mexico and Central America by the Mormon church and Brigham Young University. The purpose was to look for historical evidence of the events recounted in the Book of Mormon. Nothing useful to their theology was ever discovered. I found the essay in one of Houghton- Mifflin's annual anthologies of the best essays of the year. My favorite book of all time may be their "Best 100 Essays of the 20th Century." Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
rmartin83
Jul 10, 09 1:20 PM CDT
What's that got to do with brave citizens trying to do the right thing and then being murdered for it? Anti-mormon propaganda isn't really an appropriate repsonse to this story if you ask me....especially given how irrelevant the comment is!
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

45 Stories

Mormons Back Salt Lake
Gay Rights Law

Church says it won't drop opposition to gay marriage

Nov 11, 09 4:20 AM CST
(Newser) - The Mormon church has come out in support of gay rights legislation for the first time in its history, backing a pair of Salt Lake City ordinances passed yesterday by the city council protecting gays from discrimination in housing and employment. "The church supports these ordinances because they are... More »

MORE ABOUT:
gay rights • gay marriage • Salt Lake City • Utah • Mormon • Mormonism • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

US Porn Star Helps Convict
Brit Playboy of Murder

Developer tortured tenant to death to sell property

Sep 8, 09 3:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - A British playboy and one-time Hllary Clinton fundraiser is facing a life sentence for the torture-murder of a caretaker who refused to move out of a warehouse he wanted to sell, the Times of London reports. Thanos Papalexis, son of a Greek shipping tycoon, was convicted with the help of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
torture • murder • Britain • porn star • Thanos Papalexis

Mexican Drug Informants Import Violence to US

Intra-cartel murder shocks El Paso; feds gave trafficker visa

Aug 27, 09 5:03 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Obama administration and state governments are spending billions to keep Mexico's escalating drug war from spilling over the border. But the feds fighting trafficking have also relied on Mexican cartel members for intelligence—and that, says the Washington Post, has unleashed gangland-style violence in American cities. Drug kingpins living... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Texas • Mexico • murder • Mexican drug war • El Paso • drug cartel • drug traffickers • Mexican drug cartel

45 Stories


World  •  Crime & Courts 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
torture • Mexico • murder • Mormon • Mormonism • drug cartels • Benjamin LeBaron

from our news partners