Missing students believed slain, dissolved in acid

Authorities in the western Mexico state of Jalisco say they believe three film students missing since last month were killed and dissolved in acid.  The criminals apparently believed they were part of a rival gang.

The Jalisco Attorney General's Office says two men have been arrested and there are arrest orders for four others in the case.

Javier Solomon Aceves Gastelum, 25, Marco Garcia Francisco Avalos, 20, and Jesus Daniel Diaz, 20, were abducted March 19 on the outskirts of Guadalajara after working on a film project for school at a location that was apparently being watched by members of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.

Authorities said at a news conference Monday that the students were taken to another location where one was beaten to death. Then the other two were killed.

Prosecutors say the bodies were taken to a third location, where investigators believe they were dissolved in sulfuric acid.

The gang believed the three men were part of their rival cartel, Nueva Plaza, authorities said. The home where the three students had been filming belonged to one of their aunts and was used as a “safe house” for Nueva Plaza; it was under surveillance by Cartel Jalisco New Generation, prosecutors said.

Authorities said the students had no connection to any criminal gang.

With the Associated Press and Fox News.