As of November 23, 2020, Mexico had over 79,000 missing persons—a crisis that dates back to 2006. One city especially familiar with this tragedy is San Fernando. In the midst of cartel violence, one mother, Miriam Rodríguez, took justice into her own hands after the murder of her daughter.
A Mother’s Vow: Avenge Her Daughter’s Murder
In 2014, a brutal conflict erupted between Mexico’s notorious Zetas cartel and their former allies, the Gulf cartel. With frequent shootouts forcing local businesses to shut down, the cartels sought new ways to finance their war—through kidnappings for ransom.
At the time, Miriam Rodríguez ran a cowboy apparel store called Rodeo Boots in San Fernando. Despite growing violence, her 20-year-old daughter, Karen, chose to stay and help run the store while finishing school.
On January 23, 2014, Karen was abducted by members of the Zetas cartel. Armed men intercepted her vehicle in broad daylight and drove off with her. The Rodríguez family complied with all ransom demands, sending payment after payment. But Karen was never returned.
Weeks later, Miriam came to a devastating conclusion: her daughter was likely dead. What came next would define the rest of her life—a mother’s quest for justice.
Tracking Down the Killers: A One-Woman Investigation
Determined to bring her daughter’s killers to justice, Miriam transformed herself into a one-woman detective agency. She gathered clues, chased leads, and built a case. Within a year, her efforts led authorities to an abandoned ranch—one of the Zetas’ mass graves—where Karen’s remains were discovered.
But Miriam didn’t stop there. Over the next three years, she personally hunted down 10 members of the gang responsible for Karen’s death. She cut her hair, changed her identity, posed as various people, and even pretended to be a government official to gain trust and extract information.
She followed suspects, infiltrated their circles, and coordinated arrests—all on her own. Each one was sent to prison thanks to her relentless pursuit.
A Hero’s Journey in the Face of Danger
Her mission came at a price. Miriam’s actions made her a target for the very cartels she was exposing. But she was undeterred.
“I don’t care if they kill me,” she once said. “I died the day they killed my daughter.”
