[Mexican music]
[Female reporter] Protesters gathered at the border Of El Paso, Texas...
and Juarez, Mexico, today, to express their outrage.
Since 1993, murder has claimed the lives of over 300 women.
Scores of other women are missing. Their fates unknown.
Over and over without end, girls go missing...
and other girls are found murdered, raped, mutilated, dumped.
Bodies discarded In the high desert like refuse.
[Patrick] Step across the border and the laws that govern us...
no longer apply.
It is time that the companies that profit from these conditions...
are held to account for perpetuating them.
[Mexican music]
[Female reporter] Still, every day and night...
more young women brave the killing fields.
Decals designate houses to which they can flee for safety.
But this is cold comfort to the woman alone on an empty stretch of road...
between her bus stop and the shanty town...
In which she resides.
[Low voice] Holy Virgin.
(woman # 1) I'll see you tomorrow.
(woman # 2) Yes, tomorrow.
[Praying] Hall Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women.
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners...
now and the hour of our death. Amen.
[Voice thru recorder] Lesson number five.
Repeat after me.
Where is the post office?
Let go. Go away.
I won't do anything.
Help me!
(Man) Let her go.
[Sobbing]
Let's go, okay?
[Noise of a crowded street]
[Noise of vendors yelling]
(female vendor) Please, lady.
(Karina) I don't wanna buy.
Father Herrera!
I'm Karina Danes. This Week LA.
Professor Chaba gave me your name.
You might be able to help me out with sources...
and give me your perspective on the killings.
We have an appointment with the police. Can we talk later?
Maybe I could sit in on it with you.
No, no. This isn't a press conference.
We are talking to the police...
to improve the identification of the victims...
and notification of their relatives.
I'll be quiet as a mouse.
I promise.
Well, I don't see the harm.
How do you respond to allegations...
that the police are involved in the cover-up?
We have made several arrests to police officers, as you know.
Any further mention of conspiracies...
ignores the realities of the stride we've taken.
Three hundred women are dead...
and nothing is being done. Would you comment on that?
We are a small police force faced with a massive task.
I can assure you that every lead, every clue...
is followed and Investigated thoroughly to the utmost.
Perhaps not as quickly as we would like...
but there is a tremendous backlog.
We are not the F B I.
How come more people aren't being charged?
How come you don't have more suspects?
Let's put this in perspective.
There are more murders in New York and in LA in one month...
than occur here In a whole year.
As for police corruption...
represents a small albeit disgraceful element.
This is disrespectful.
Those women are still dead. They don't have a spokesperson.
Maybe you could join us on our next meeting, Miss Danes.
You inviting her?
[Soft music]
(Norman) Sorry to keep you waiting.
Father, how are you? Good to see you again.
Sorry, Mr. Patron, you don't shake my hand.
I'm sorry, do I know you?
No, but I know you.
You're a flack for the factory owners.
(Norman) I'm the PR representative...
for a consortium of US factories here. And you?
Karina Danes. I work for This Week LA.
Like where side workers run.
What's the spin you're putting on the abductions and the murders...
of the factory workers in Juarez?
It's hardly a spin, Miss Danes.
The issue is safety. You have no idea what works down here.
Enlighten me.
We have living quarters for most of the girls.
We shepherd them to and from the factories in buses.
You should see it.
I'd like to. You wanna show me?
I'm afraid I'm leaving for LA shortly.
Of course.
El Paso is one of the safest cities in America...
but right here, you take your own life in your hands...
just because you're outside when the sun goes down.
If you built your factories in America...
you would have to pay attention to the laws, the regulations...
for work place safety, minimum wage...
working conditions. Here you can do what you want.
Why don't you come off it, alright?
People come here to benefit from the economy.
They come for and they find a better life.
Good afternoon, Father.
[Sound of factory machinery]
Help me to fold the boxes.
EM P LO YE E T RAN S PO RT
Miss Danes. Later on this evening I'll be visiting...
one of the mothers of the victims. You're welcome to join me.
I'm sure you will be the sole of discretion.
Thank you, Father.
[Soft music]
[Mariela] Did M r. Martinez learn the future tense?
The Virgin.
I love it.
Thank you, Mom.
[Undefined noise]
[Door lock click]
(Mariela) I n the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
[Praying] Hall Mary. Please, Virgin, help me.
Her name was Luz.
Do you speak Spanish?
A little.
Her name was Luz.
I'm going to speak in American... English.
We do not even know...
if she made it to the factory for the late shift.
Or maybe she was turned away.
You know that even If they're late one minute...
they're turned away.
Then they have to make the whole trip back...
in the night... alone.
We told the police she's missing.
She never stays away.
They ask, "Does she have a boyfriend?
is she out dancing every night?"
She works.
She works every night.
They ask...
"Does she wear revealing outfits?"
Bastards.
They ask disgusting questions.
I n this place...
they dared to ask these disgusting questions.
[Soft music continues]
(Woman) I'll go with you to your house.
Yes, come with me.
This way.
The police...
they didn't even tell me that they had found her body.
My neighbor, she heard It on the television.
My little girl.
They dumped her body.
She was raped.
[Pants and sobs]
[Panic horn alarm siren]
[Distant dog barking]
[Crickets chirping]
Did you hear it?
Yeah, what was it?
[Panting]
[Panic horn alarm siren]
[Dramatic music]
[Music continues]
(Deputy) Hey, we have a visitor.
What's going on?
You can't pass.
Who gave the Father a free pass?
Who do you think?
Jorge Herrera.
Excellent.
Can you believe it?
I'm a reporter. I'm with him.
Sorry. Sorry, no reporters.
I got assigned. Was there another killing?
We don't know that.
What do you have?
This is official police business.
You take one more step, and I'll have to arrest you.
You know that bullshit about Mexican jails?
is not bullshit.
Don't let her pass.
Father.
What do they have?
Blood everywhere.
Hey, what did you see?
I'm in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Somewhere south of Juarez.
A place called Lomas de Pelayo.
I think I couldn't...
[panic horn alarm siren]
[Click]
What is this?
Not much good, apparently.
[Pop music]
You're a real lone wolf.
Some of my other customers like to entertain In a group.
Like to bust the little bitch around.
(Man) No, no, not me.
(Man) Yes, yes.
This one.
(Felix) She's perfect.
Just arrived. No one knows her.
[Door knob click]
[Door creaks open]
Shhhhhhh...
[moaning]
EMERGENCY ENTRANCE
[priest praying]
[Priest praying]
[Click]
PALACE OF JUSTICE
[click]
Detective Lauro!
Damn it.
Detective Lauro!
Do you think that this is going to help?
Do you think that this fixation is going to do any good?
Fixation? Are you kidding?
The decent citizens of Juarez are being scared away.
And for the criminals It's an open Invitation.
Everywhere. Everywhere, these reminders.
It's not just a memorial, Detective. It's a warning!
They're gonna keep coming down for work.
They're gonna keep on getting killed...
because there's no one to protect them.
Somebody help me. You are an American.
You tell them somebody took my Lisabet.
What?
I don't know.
I keep coming back and asking and asking...
and nobody can tell me.
She didn't come home one evening.
I keep coming back and they say they know nothing.
Nothing!
is this your wife?
You know who this is?
You found her in the desert. You've had her two days.
This is a small force.
We are slow to identify. It's a bureaucratic problem.
There is no malice involved.
There's only so much we can do.
But we have a lead.
WANT E D F O R I NT E RRO GAT I O N
(Lauro) A factory worker was brought In.
She survived an attack.
Someone survived? Who is she?
Three men found her walking in the desert.
Could they be the ones...?
No, their shift just ended.
She... she's at the hospital where I work.
Do you know her name?
No.
She hasn't talked since she arrived.
So you haven't interviewed her.
Not yet. She's still in shock.
(Isidro) Tell me, have you found her?
She won't come back, right?
(Lauro) I'm sorry.
How is she?
(Nurse) Who could've done this thing? This must end.
Yes, it must.
Miss Danes, you should leave now.
Oh! Yeah. One sec.
Please.
Hey, what are you doing here? Why aren't you at home?
No, no.
My Lisabet is gone.
[Woman's scream]
Ahhh!
[Dramatic music]
Oh, Lord.
(Isidro) My God I
[click]
Buddy, here.
Thanks.
(Felix) I gave her my business card.
Yes. A card with my name and my phone number on it.
Yes. I didn't find it among her things.
Listen, moron...
I am worrying that it is going to turn up.
What?
You can be sure of that?
Yes.
[Soft music]
[Sighing] She's alive.
Thank you.
[Soft music]
[Father Herrera over tape recorder] What is your name?
Mariela.
What a nice name.
Shhhhh.
[Woman's scream over tape recorder]
[Soft pop music]
[Arcelia over tape recorder] Did you hear it?
(Karina) Yeah, what was it?
A bus driver that dropped off Lisabet...
was the last person to see her alive.
The police Interviewed him, but they don't have enough evidence.
Poor Isidro!
You believe in stigmata?
It's acknowledged by the Church.
Isidro feels he witnessed a miracle.
What do you think about that?
I think it is a miracle that she survived the attack.
So, I've been doing some research on you.
Got your hands pretty full in East LA.
Many of the folks in our congregation...
have relatives in Juarez. They're getting pretty worried.
Quite a family you have. You and your brother.
It's a pretty serious gang he's running there.
Are you here to exploit the situation between my brother and I?
It's a pretty wild dichotomy.
You, the man of God...
and your brother, the gang banger. Right?
Both God and the Devil...
have my brother my the tail, Miss Danes.
But he tries to be a Christian In his own way.
is that it? is this just a good story?
No.
That's not the reason.
And what is the reason?
Why would an attractive woman...
come to Juarez on her own...
and place herself in harm's way if not for glory?
It's not glory.
I've been there, Father. I've done that.
Oh.
I wrote a piece on Chinese women that were being imported...
to work in the sex industry.
I have this source inform me of the ship's container...
that was full of people. Young women, actually.
I knew where It was...
and I knew how long it'd been there.
But I didn't tell the police right away.
I wanted to get a crew together...
and time the arrival of the cops on the dock...
with the 6: 00 news.
Because, you know, that was my plan.
But it didn't work out, you know.
The cops were late, and the news was over.
When they opened the door, there were just 36 dead girls.
No one blamed me.
No one blamed me because It was a good story...
and I broke the story.
But there was this one girl who looked at me.
She was looking straight at me...
and she blinked and then she died.
And you know what I was doing?
I was taking a picture.
All those weeks In a container.
And when they finally opened the fucking door...
you see yourself in a camera lens dying.
I did that.
God forgives.
No.
I don't believe like you do, Father.
He'll forgive you... anyway.
Yeah.
[Soft music]
[Soft music continues]
I NT E RNAT I O NAL B RI D G E
MARKET O F J U AREZ
Look.
[Car engine started]
[Soft music]
[Whining softly]
[Soft guitar music]
Can I help you?
She was released?
I'm sorry?
The girl who was here. What happened to her?
I...
[door bangs open]
Isidro, wait!
[Soft music]
[Music continues]
[Youth # 1] Rljaaaahhhh I
[Screams]
Ahhh!
Help me.
Help me!
Stop, old man, go home!
Help me. Help me, please
(Isidro) Hey I
ahhhh! Ahhhhhh!
Bastard!
Damn you! Bastard!
[Dramatic music]
[Breathes heavily]
Thank you.
[People praying]
This way.
Good evening.
Hello.
The Virgin.
(Karina) That's the girl who was attacked I
(Isidro) No, that was someone else.
She has not been attacked.
She has not been touched.
That's her. You were there. I was there.
This is her!
What's she doing here?
She should be In the hospital and talk to the police.
No. The mothers of the lost ones...
they will care for her.
She is safe here.
Safe?
You don't worry about her.
I am worried.
[Unfolding piece of paper] You see this? See that?
You see this?
You see these men?
They're accused of brutalizing and raping and killing women!
You recognize any of them?
Miss Danes!
Father Herrera.
Please.
Isidro, will you show these around to the women here?
See If they recognize someone.
She should be In a hospital.
Are you aware that you're an accomplice...
to an abduction of a young girl?
It's a bit melodramatic. She checked herself out.
What is going on here?
Mariela, the Virgin, is becoming a symbol for change.
A counterpoint to the murders. A miracle.
Because of the supposed stigmata? She needs to talk to the police.
She has no memory beyond her vision.
Besides, the police have their hands full...
and they're not all trustworthy.
[Dramatic music]
Ahhhh!
[Yells]
[Laughter]
If we can join the Virgin with other organizations...
that are calling for change...
The Virgin? What are you talking about?
[Sobbing]
Ahhhh!
Ah!
[Sobbing]
Does the Church condone this?
This is the Church!
[Frantic yelling]
(man) She's screaming.
[Voices murmuring]
[Bell tolls]
Thank you.
(Mariela) Take this photograph.
(man) Thank you.
You're still here. That is great!
You must see.
You must tell of her.
I'll tell as many people as I can.
There's so much darkness now.
So much fear.
And yet she, this young girl...
bravely walks Into the desert alone.
And what does she see? But our Holy Mother.
I want to ask you, why did she walk Into the desert?
She was pulled. That's all she says.
Something was pulling her.
Of course you cannot understand.
You're like everyone.
You have lost touch with God.
(Isidro) Good evening, Miss.
Isidro, what happened in the desert?
She was covered with a glow.
(Isidro) A beautiful bright shining light.
And when she looked at her hands...
she saw that the blood was flowing from her...
but there was no pain.
And then she spoke.
She?
The Virgin Mary.
She said there was much for her to do.
And when next she came to her, she would tell her more.
More about what her mission is to be.
Mission?
She is going to help us.
Uhh! Uhh!
[Voices murmuring]