Associated Press
October 15, 2002

Bodies of 11 Possible Immigrants Found in Iowa Rail Car


Tuesday; Page A20

DENISON, Iowa, Oct. 14 -- As many as 11 bodies, possibly immigrants being smuggled into the country, were found in a Union Pacific rail car, authorities said
tonight.

All the victims were from Mexico, said Jerry Heinauer, district director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service for Nebraska and Iowa.

Heinauer said he was told by the Mexican consul that the car left Matamoros, Mexico, in June. It was parked in Oklahoma before heading to Denison, about 60
miles northwest of Omaha.

Jose Luis Cuevas, Mexican consul for the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska, said railroad officials had given him the impression that the bodies had been in the rail car at
least four months.

Cuevas and Heinauer said they didn't know if the victims were men, women or children.

"We have notified our government and they will advise if they have people whose whereabouts are not known and that might have been heading this way," Cuevas
said.

Heinauer said authorities do not know whether the victims were being smuggled into the country but that the case fit the pattern of smuggling operations.

Union Pacific spokesman John Bromley in Omaha said the bodies were found in a covered grain hopper car at the FSC Archer Daniels Midland elevator.

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