Three Mennonites found shot dead in stolen truck in Mexico

Three male Mennonites have been found shot to death in the northern Mexico state of Chihuahua. 

The state prosecutors’ office said Sunday the bodies were found in the cab of a pickup truck with New Mexico plates on the side of the road in an area known as Campo Menonita 35. 

The men had been shot multiple times.

The bodies have not been identified, but the office said their appearance suggested they were Mennonites.

Three bodies were found in the cab of a pickup truck on Sunday in northern Mexico. The unidentified men were dressed in Mennonite clothing

The gray Ford F-150 with New Mexico plates was covered with mud and what appear to be bullet holes in the windshield. It had been reported stolen in New Mexico on October 4

The gray Ford F-150 with New Mexico plates was covered with mud and what appear to be bullet holes in the windshield. It had been reported stolen in New Mexico on October 4

The pickup was found in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, near a Mennonite community called Campo Menonita 35

The pickup was found in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, near a Mennonite community called Campo Menonita 35

Members of the community wear distinctive overalls and often differ in physical appearance from other farmers in the area.

The citizenship status of the victims is not clear.

The gray Ford F-150 was covered with mud and had what appeared to be bullet holes in the windshield. It was reported in New Mexico on October 4.

There are approximately 100,000 Mennonites living in Mexico. They speak a combination of Spanish, English and German. 

The Mennonite communities of Canada began migrating to Mexico, in particular Chihuahua, in 1900 after being lured by grants from the Mexican government to increase agricultural production and greater leniency towards child labor. Many are dual citizens of Mexico and Canada.

Mennonites rely mainly on agriculture, growing cotton and other crops that are exported to the U.S., Japan and China.

Unlike some Mennonites in the U.S., the ones in Mexico are known to drive cars. 

The Mennonites of Canada began migrating to Mexico, in particular the northern state of Chihuahua, in 1900 after being lured by grants from the Mexican government to increase agricultural production.  They are pictured above in an anniversary celebration in 2007

The Mennonites of Canada began migrating to Mexico, in particular the northern state of Chihuahua, in 1900 after being lured by grants from the Mexican government to increase agricultural production. They are pictured above in an anniversary celebration in 2007

A Mexican Mennonite father and his son are pictured in the traditional overalls worn by the community. There are approximately 100,000 Mennonites living in Mexico. They speak a combination of Spanish, English and German

A Mexican Mennonite father and his son are pictured in the traditional overalls worn by the community. There are approximately 100,000 Mennonites living in Mexico. They speak a combination of Spanish, English and German

Clashes between Mennonites and other farmers over water have been deadly in the past as the population grows and the government puts increasing regulations on water extraction. 

The Mennonite community has also been tied to drug cartels in several instances. 

Jacob Fehr, 38, was arrested in January 2011 after being caught smuggling more than 4lb of cocaine over the border. 

The married father-of-four testified that cartels threatened his family after he became involved with them when he moved from Mexico to Peace River in 2007. Fehr told authorities that he owed the cartel money.  

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