**Search Collectives Advocate for DNA Testing Before Burying Unclaimed Bodies**
In Baja California, search collectives are determined to ensure that unclaimed bodies at the state’s Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) are not buried in common graves without attempting to identify them through DNA testing. Paula Sandoval, leader of the group “Familiares Unidos Buscando a Nuestros Desaparecidos,” emphasized that their primary challenge for 2025 is to push for legislative changes requiring DNA samples and fingerprinting of unclaimed bodies. These measures would facilitate the identification process and help reunite families with their lost loved ones.
As it stands, unidentified bodies are typically kept in Semefo for about three months. However, due to a surge in violence in Baja California, they are often buried in common graves within three weeks, often without proper identification processes being followed. Sandoval explained that families tirelessly searching for missing relatives endure significant physical, mental, and financial strain. Instituting a legal framework for identification would greatly benefit those who suspect their missing loved ones are buried in unmarked graves.
**Secondary Article: Increased DNA Analysis Demand Amidst Rising Crime Rates**
In response to the rising crime rates, Baja California has seen increasing demands for DNA analysis as a means to manage and identify the growing number of unclaimed bodies. The push for legislative reform is gaining support, as families continue to express their frustrations over the current system that leaves them without closure or information. There is a call for the state to invest in better forensic practices to avoid the dismissal or misidentification of victims. Meanwhile, forensic facilities are under pressure to expedite procedures amidst their limited resources, prompting debates on the allocation of government funding to law enforcement and forensic services.
Moreover, recent cases have highlighted the inadequacies in the system, where families, such as that of the young Erick Carrillo, are left in limbo awaiting DNA results. These delays often prolong the agony of not knowing, highlighting the need for systemic improvements to aid these search collectives and affected families in their pursuit of truth and justice.