Carlos's lateness was his unexpected lifesaver. On the night of Sunday, May 25, he was supposed to meet Grupo Fugitivo for a gig in Riberas del Río. But as Rubén Isaac, a relative of one of the murdered members, recounted to local press, Carlos found an empty spot upon arrival. Unable to reach them, he headed home. From Reynosa's colony, their last known location, to the clandestine dumping ground where their bodies were discovered, lies a mere 12-kilometer stretch—short yet riddled with mysteries.

The case has shaken Tamaulipas' border city. Initial investigations suggest a cell of the Gulf Cartel, known as Los Metro, with nine arrests made. Carlos, the second vocalist who survived due to his tardiness, remains under wraps. His safety is assured by those close to him, although the authorities haven't verified the band's murder motives. Search groups, relatives, and locals suspect the musicians were lured deliberately.

Relatives stated the band had a gig near Riberas de Rancho Grande, north of the city, specifically at Bar La Chinita. Authorities discovered blood traces inside, which were collected for analysis during a security sweep, as reported by an ex-wife of one of the members.

The Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office stated they were abducted around 10 PM Sunday, while traveling in a black van for a private event in Riberas del Río, near Reynosa-Hidalgo's international bridge on the Mexican side. A family member told the press they were summoned to play at an outdoor venue, which was nothing but vacant land.

In this locale, the last known images of Grupo Fugitivo were recorded that night. A Facebook video showed Vázquez, another vocalist, singing "Cruzando el puente" by Los Cadetes de Linares with bandmates Nemesio Durán, Víctor Garza, José Francisco Morales, and Livan Solís de la Rosa, the band's representative. Another post from that day displayed photos with the caption: "See you soon in McAllen, Texas. Pure Fugitivo, crossing borders (Just the photo on the Mexican side, but we hope to one day expand to the USA) [sic]."

Days passed until May 27, when Tamaulipas' State Commission for Missing Persons issued alerts to find the five men. The next day, Wednesday, their van was located in La Cañada, over six kilometers from their last sighting, showing "vandalism attempts" to remove the group's stickers. Meanwhile, their equipment vehicle was found near Pharr-Reynosa bridge, another US border crossing.

The Prosecutor's Office detailed the band was taken to Aquiles Serdán, where evidence suggests it was the site of their demise. Local press described this forensic investigation site as "a remote former clandestine dump," marking the end of Grupo Fugitivo's path.

Until Wednesday, hopes remained among the band's families, friends, and colleagues to find the four members and their representative alive. Some protested for two days, blocking access to Pharr-Reynosa's international bridge; others lit candles with their images at Guadalupe Cathedral, downtown. A song echoed, lamenting the potential tragedy: "Today Reynosa is sad for Grupo Fugitivo's boys, as they're missing. Today Reynosa cries, asking God for their safe return home."

By Wednesday night, local media reported five charred bodies discovered in Aquiles Serdán's property. However, confirmation came only Thursday morning from Tamaulipas' Security Spokesperson. Barrios Mojica withheld details on the identities of the five bodies, stating forensic investigations continue.

While Tamaulipas' Prosecutor briefed the media on Ciudad Victoria's case findings, the members' families protested outside the Reynosa office, clinging to hope for their loved ones' survival. "We need ADN proof for the Prosecutor's confirmation that they're truly them, and it isn't. So far, it isn't," a victim's family member remarked.

Another chapter in Mexico's violence horror tale unfolds in Tamaulipas. Questions linger in the air, with no clear resolution in sight.