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Mourners Hail Two Victims Killed by Mexican Hitmen

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2009 3:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – More than 1,000 mourners yesterday honored two men 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)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
kokuaguy
Jul 10, 2009 9:33 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."

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