Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

This police chief has been arrested on suspicion of participating in the massacre of the LeBaron family, the Mexican-American Mormon clan killed en-route to a wedding.

The current Director of Public Security of the municipality of Janos, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, identified as Fidel Alejandro Villegas Villegas, alias ‘El Chiquilin’, has been arrested by members of the general prosecution for his alleged links with organised crime and his suspected participation in the attack to the LeBaron family.

According to official sources, the cop was arrested on Tuesday (24th December) in Janos, and was taken to the capital Mexico City in order to be processed.

Villegas is the fourth person arrested after the massacre which took place on 4th November in Bavispe, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, and saw three women and six children murdered.

On 1st December, federal officers arrested brothers Hector Mario and Luis Manuel Hernandez, who are still in custody in Mexico City, accused of the massacre of the LeBaron family.

However, family and friends of the victims along with villagers in Janos have claimed that the brothers are not criminals nor leaders of a criminal gang working in the area. They have organised protests in order to ask for the bothers’ release, as they claimed to have evidence proving that they did not participate in the massacre as they suspects have an alibi.

The investigation against Fidel Alejandro Villegas was carried due to his alleged participation because he reportedly has information about the massacre – leading to his arrest.

Authorities suspect that he could be an active element of the criminal organisation La Linea and is thought to provide security to the gang allegedly led by Roberto G.M., El Mudo or El 32.

According to the official version of events, La Linea gang members confused the victims’ cars with those owned by rival cartel Los Salazar, so La Linea hitmen opened fire on the vehicles.

The victim’s relatives have questioned this theory.

The nine victims all held US-Mexican citizenship and were named as Titus Miller, 8-month-old twin, Tiana Miller, 8-month-old twin, Rogan Langford, two, Krystal Miller, 10, Trevor Langford, 11, Howard Miller, 12, Christina Marie Langford Johnson, 29, Rhonita Miller, 30, Dawna Langford, 43.

The investigation is ongoing.

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