In Mexico, over 130,000 people are missing as cartel violence grows out of control. One victim, Ángel Montenegro, was taken in August 2022 after a night out in Cuautla. Kidnappers forced him into a white van and disappeared. His mother, Patricia García, found only his cap and shoe at the site. She has searched for over three years without success. Mexico Evalúa reports disappearances have risen over 200% in the last decade. Security analyst Armando Vargas says cartels are expanding, forcing people into gangs and hiding bodies in unmarked graves or burning them to avoid detection. Criminal groups now engage in organ trafficking, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling. The government’s National Search Commission struggles with low funding and political pressure. President Claudia Sheinbaum called some data unreliable and promised a new report. Yet, many believe the true numbers are far higher. Investigations are slow and often fail; in 2022, over 96% of crimes went unsolved. Mothers like García continue to search themselves, finding hidden graves but rarely their missing loved ones. “You’re left in broken pieces,” García says, refusing to give up on finding Ángel.