Update from Juarez

The New York Times is reporting that a gang member arrested for the Juarez murders of 3 people related to the U.S. Consulate said they were targeting Arthur Redelfs, the husband of Consulate employee Lesley Enriquez, because he worked for the El Paso County Jail and had apparently "menaced" some of their gang members there.

The U.S. doesn't seem totally convinced by this argument, but if true, it means that 1) these victims weren't targeted because of their affiliation with the U.S. consulate, and 2) Jorge Salcido Ceniceros, the Mexican husband of consulate employee Hilda Antillon, was murdered just because he was driving in a similar car. His 4 and 7 year old children saw their father killed and were hurt themselves (I wish I knew how badly and if they are ok physically) just because of a case of mistaken identity.

I have been so devastated by these crimes (of course, I don't mean to imply that my sadness approximates what is being felt by family members, friends, and FSOs connected to these victims). As a mom, thinking about children witnessing their parents' murders is unbearable. I am grateful that the couple's baby was young enough not to understand or remember. As an FS candidate, I was terrified by this news. 2 days earlier, I had spent an hour researching Mexican border posts and thinking that many of them would be perfect first posts for our family- close to U.S. grocery stores, attractions, and other amenities, but living in Mexico, a country I love. So the timing was scary for me.

My husband put it well. He said, "this week, work was really tough, and I thought, 'my job sucks.' Then, as I pumped water out of our flooding basement, I thought, 'my house sucks.' Then, when I heard this news, I thought, 'my dream sucks.'"

I feel guilty being glad about this news, that he was targeted for being a Sheriff's officer, instead of related to a Consular worker. I have never really thought about the danger law enforcement personnel face every day. I don't know anyone who's a police officer; it's never really come up in my daily life. Today I am grateful for their work and sacrifice and again send my condolences to the grieving families of these victims.