Forgotten: Women of Juárez

In the famous border city of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, hundreds of women go missing. The ones that are found have strange symbols carved on their bodies. Some have their wrists bound with shoelaces. All are discarded like garbage. The story of Forgotten investigates what or who is responsible — a serial killer, organ traffickers, a Satanic Cult? — and pursues an investigation with law enforcement on both sides of the border, terrified witnesses, and corrupt authorities. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 1 - For the last three decades, women have gone missing in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, right across the border from El Paso, Texas. Some are found later, bearing the telltale signs of a serial killer. Hosts Oz Woloshyn and Mónica Ortiz Uribe begin their investigation into who could be responsible for these horrific crimes. We speak with the FBI’s former top agent on the border, as well as the journalist who’s gone the farthest in investigating the killings, Diana Washington Valdez. And we visit the family of Sagrario González Flores, whose murder remains unsolved. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2 - Oz and Monica explore the case of Lilia Alejandra Andrade, whose abduction and murder revealed disturbing evidence that connects to other crimes. We meet the former Chief of Forensics in Juárez, to learn why he warned of a serial killer. And Diana shares disturbing details of how the victims were selected. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 3 - We travel to downtown Juárez, where many of the victims were last seen alive, and where journalists are unwelcome. Oz and Monica visit the offices of El Diario, Juárez’s local paper, to learn about the risks faced by those who seek the truth. And Diana receives strange threats as she gets closer to exposing who is behind the crimes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 4 - It's 2001 and eight women's bodies are discovered in a well trafficked area of Ciudad Juárez. Oz and Mónica visit the site of the mass grave with the former chief forensic investigator and take a closer look at some unusual crime scene details. Two suspects confess to the crimes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 5 - Doubts about the bus drivers' guilt in the Cotton Field murders inspire two prominent lawyers to come to their defense. The lawyers question the police investigation and start to receive threats. Dante Almarez, the "Devil's Lawyer," is on a personal mission to uncover the truth of who is responsible for the murders of the women. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode, Mónica gives us a sneak peak into the side of Juárez that is often discussed, but rarely understood. We meet cultural anthropologist and border expert Howard Campbell, who has deeply researched the various criminal networks at work in Ciudad Juárez by spending time on the ground. We'll be back next week with a new episode that takes us even further into the Juárez underworld. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 6 - Journalist Alfredo Corchado interviews an eyewitness from the Juárez underworld, who claims to know what's happening to the murdered women. A suspect is arrested in Sagrario Gonzalez's case. And the FBI begins a secret cross-border operation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 7 - Uncovering who is behind the murders of women begins to suggest a much larger conspiracy. But how far does it reach? And does it stop at the border? Alfredo keeps digging, and we look for answers in Júarez's past. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 8 - One of the biggest challenges of getting to the bottom of the femicides is knowing who to trust, and who is metido - involved with the dark side. FBI agent Hardrick Crawford begins speaking out, calling the murders "crimes against humanity." But as he becomes involved with the Juárez elite, he makes powerful enemies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 9 - We examine the details that connect many of the murder victims to Juárez's foreign-owned factories, also known as maquiladoras. A Mexican customs investigation takes an unusual turn, leading Diana to a new line of investigation for who else could be involved in the murders.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 10 - Another mass grave is discovered in 2012, suggesting a new wave of femicides. Oz investigates connections between the cartels and the international banking system, and Mónica returns to Juárez for a final conversation with Paula Flores about what happened after Sagrario disappeared. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mónica is joined by Colombian journalist and Univision news anchor Ilia Calderón for a conversation about the drivers of femicide around the world, and Ilia’s new book "My Time to Speak: Reclaiming Ancestry and Confronting Race." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special bonus episode, Mónica revisits a protest march she attended in México to mark International Women's Day, back at the beginning of 2020. We examine the situation on the ground in Juárez today, share a small update from the Flores family, and answer one of our most frequently asked questions: What can we do, in the continuing fight against femicide and gender violence? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Desde hace tres décadas, es común que desaparezcan mujeres en Ciudad Juárez, al otro lado de la frontera de la ciudad de El Paso, Texas. Los cuerpos de algunas han sido hallados después con indicios de violencia propia de un asesino serial. En este episodio, comenzamos a indagar quién podría ser responsable de estos crímenes tan brutales. Asimismo, hablamos con un exagente del FBI que estuvo al mando en la frontera y con una de las periodistas que más ha profundizado en estos asesinatos, Diana Washington Valdez. También visitamos a la familia de Sagrario González Flores, cuyo feminicidio sigue impune. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Este episodio explora el caso de Lilia Alejandra Andrade, cuyo secuestro y asesinato brindó evidencia perturbadora que lo vincula con otros crímenes. Entrevistamos al exjefe de Investigaciones Forenses de Juárez para entender por qué sospechaba de un asesino Serial. Asimismo, Diana comparte detalles aterradores sobre la selección de las víctimas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Este episodio nos lleva al centro de Ciudad Juárez, que fue donde vieron por última vez con vida a muchas de las víctimas y donde los periodistas no son bienvenidos. Visitamos las oficinas de El Diario, periódico local de Juárez, para saber más sobre los riesgos que enfrentan quienes buscan la verdad. Además, Diana recibe amenazas extrañas a medida que se acerca a exponer a los responsables de estos asesinatos. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

En 2001 se descubrieron los cuerpos de ocho mujeres en una zona bastante transitada de Ciudad Juárez. Visitamos el lugar del hallazgo de la mano del exjefe de Investigación Forense de Juárez para conocer mejor algunos de los detalles inusuales de aquella escena del crimen. Además, dos sospechosos confiesan haber cometido esos asesinatos. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Las dudas sobre la culpabilidad de los choferes de autobús en los asesinatos del Campo Algodonero inspiran a dos prominentes abogados a emprender su defensa. Los abogados cuestionan la investigación policial y empiezan a recibir amenazas. Dante Almaraz, “el abogado del diablo”, emprende la misión personal de descifrar la verdad sobre quién es responsable de los asesinatos de esas mujeres. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

El periodista Alfredo Corchado entrevista a un testigo ocular del submundo juarense que asegura saber qué es lo que ocurre con las mujeres desaparecidas. Arrestan a un sospechoso por el asesinato de Sagrario González, y el FBI emprende una operación secreta transfronteriza. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.