LAREDO, Texas – Five of the six people found dead inside a shipping container Sunday in Laredo have been identified, according to the Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office.
A seventh person, who is a Mexican resident believed to be connected to those found in Laredo, was discovered along railroad tracks in southwest Bexar County on Monday, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
He was identified on Wednesday as Nereo Aguilar Garcia, 49, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Indictments handed down
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons and Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco announced the indictments of 11 people connected to the investigation during a July 24, 2026, news conference.
The identities of the indicted are:
- Franklin Williams Ayala Aguilera
- Jonas Ulloa-Aguilera
- Damian Huerta Analucas
- Karina Garcia
- Eric Hernandez
- Mayra Alejandra Huerta
- Seferino Huerta-Casillas
- Pascual Raymundo Loarca
- Rosario Cristal Lopez-Saldana
- Maria Norma Neri de Moran
- Edson Alejandro Perez
Simmons said five suspects are non-U.S. citizens, four are U.S. citizens and two are “lawful, permanent” U.S. residents. Of those indicted, law enforcement is actively searching for two suspects — Karina Garcia and Seferino Huerta-Casillas.
All 11 are facing the following charges:
- conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death
- aiding and abetting the transportation of aliens resulting in death
If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
According to a May 2026 news release from the Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office, the identities of five people found in Laredo are:
- 56-year-old man from Mexico
- 45-year-old man from Mexico
- 29-year-old woman from Mexico
- 24-year-old man from Honduras
Six of the bodies were discovered just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday during a rail yard inspection in north Laredo.
The Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the woman from Mexico died due to hyperthermia. While exams for the other five people remain pending, officials believe it is likely they all suffered the same cause of death.
Salazar said his office believes the train originated in Del Rio and had a door open to allow people to load in before the train split, with half going to Houston and half going to Laredo.
The medical examiner’s office said it believes the “individuals originated from Mexico and Honduras.” The office said it is working closely with the Mexican Consulate to facilitate communication with families of the deceased.
The discoveries took place a little more than a year after two guilty verdicts were reached in the 2022 migrant smuggling tragedy along Quintana Road, which left 53 people dead, making it the nation’s most deadly.
Referencing the tragedy, Laredo Mayor Victor D. Treviño said in a statement that it is “a reminder of the ongoing humanitarian challenges along the border and the need for solutions that prioritize both security and human life.”
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