Five Decapitated Bodies Found In Mexico: Authorities Begin Investigations

Five decapitated bodies have been found in the Mexican state of Michoacan, left as a chilling message from the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel. The bodies were discovered early on Saturday morning: three were found on the outskirts of the state capital, Morelia, and two more were found in a central plaza within Morelia itself. The grizzly discovery is yet another indication of the increasing violence errupting in the state as the New Generation and Knights Templar cartels fight for control.

The state Attornery General, revealed the discovery of the five corpses early on Saturday morning. "When police arrived at the site they found the bodies beside their decapitated heads. However, the bodies are as yet unidentified. A knife has been found nearby which may have been used in the decapitation, however it will be up to forensic experts to confirm this." The victims were all between the ages of 30 and 35. Meanwhile, in the city of Uruapan, a van was lit on fire in the main square.

The rising violence in the state is indicative of an escalating turf war between two of the country's most powerful cartels: the Knights Templar and the New Generation Jalisco Cartel. Crime rates in the states of Michoacan and Jalisco have risen dramatically in recent months as more and more grizzly discoveries are made: just last month an unmarked grave site was uncovered on the border between the two states with over sixty bodies.