Following the tragic kidnapping and murder of her daughter, one mother spent years of her life hunting down her child’s captors.
Many are claiming that her hunt mirrored the 2008 film “Taken” as this mother went to any and all lengths to get justice for her beloved daughter.
20-year-old Karen Alejandra Salinas Rodriguez was abducted in San Fernando, Tamaulipas when a group of armed men from the Los Zetas Cartel forced their way into her vehicle and took off with her still inside.
Despite ransom demands being paid to the cartel, Karen was murdered and her remains were left on an abandoned ranch.
Her mother, Miriam Elizabeth Rodriguez Martinez, assumed the role of a vigilante and took matters into her own hands, knowing full well she would not see justice unless she played a part in it.
Sadly, Mexico is notorious for corruption in law enforcement, especially with the drug cartels.
“Using various disguises, a fake handgun, a real pistol, and false identification, the mother managed to locate and interrogate several members of the Los Zetas cartel, one of the most dangerous and violent in the country,” Daily Mail reported.
According to the New York Times, “In three years, Mrs. Rodríguez captured nearly every living member of the crew that had abducted her daughter for ransom, a rogues’ gallery of criminals who tried to start new lives — as a born-again Christian, a taxi driver, a car salesman, a babysitter.”
According to the Times “In all, she was instrumental in taking down 10 [criminals], a mad campaign for justice that made her famous, but vulnerable. No one challenged organized crime, never mind put its members in prison.”
Luckily, Miriam’s son, Luis, was able to aid in his mother’s crusade as well when he recognized one of Karen’s kidnappers walk into his store.
Luis called the police and the man was arrested, confessing horrendous details of Karen’s murder.
Sadly, Miriam’s mission caused her to be on the cartel’s hit list and weeks after she had chased down one of her remaining targets, she was shot and killed in front of her home.
“She was a brave person, who worried about others and had the courage of her convictions in her struggle,” said Giovanni Barrios Moreno, whose own son disappeared.
Following her death, Miriam’s hometown of San Fernando placed a bronze plaque honoring her in the central plaza.