LeBaron Family Demands Authorities Keep ‘Pepe El Águila’ in Custody After Arrest in 2019 Massacre Case

Mexico City, Mexico — The LeBaron family is demanding that federal and state authorities keep a suspect linked to the 2019 massacre of three women and six children in custody, fearing he could be released due to procedural failures or complicity, as happened with two other implicated individuals.

Family members said they have learned that Ever José Bourne, known as “Pepe el Águila,” is in custody and under investigation for allegedly participating as a hitman in the attack on their family in Bavispe, Sonora, on November 4, 2019.

In social media posts, Julian LeBaron stated, “We are sharing this information so authorities cannot feign innocence or ignorance and release him due to incompetence, as they did with ‘El Chango,’ or worse, due to complicity, as happened with another involved hitman who ended up hired as a police officer in Ciudad Juárez.”

Adrian LeBaron made “a call to the conscience of judges not to be bought; in their hands are the lives of many people who do not deserve to walk or offer their peace to a criminal.” He added, “Do not let him go free. The country no longer deserves to wear more mourning and powerlessness,” pleading, “Please, do not let him continue sowing terror, continue sowing murders. His next murders and broken families will be your responsibility.”

He explained that Ever José, alias “El Águila,” is reportedly a regional plaza boss in the Sierra of Chihuahua, operates in the Sierra Tarahumara and other municipalities in Sonora, and is considered a very dangerous criminal.

“He also had to do with the massacre of my daughter and my grandchildren. He was one of those who participated, and if we are saying this today, it is out of fear that they will let him go free, as happened with ‘El Chango,’ whom they opened the door for despite having so much to pay for,” he elaborated.

“Pepe el Águila” was apprehended along with three other people during an operation on the Laguna Norte bypass in Torreón, Coahuila, inside an armored vehicle transporting firearms, magazines, cartridges, and eight cell phones.