Severed Heads Found in Western Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Two severed human heads were found Monday on the edge of a village in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, authorities said.

The heads belonged to two unidentified males, the state Attorney General’s Office said.

Agents from the AG’s office transported the heads from the village of Tiamba to the Michoacan medical examiner’s office and a criminal investigation is under way.

Mexico’s criminal organizations often dump victims’ bodies or body parts in public spots to send a message, whether to rival gangs, authorities or local populations they are trying to intimidate.

The Mexican federal government dispatched additional police and military personnel to Michoacan in January amid escalating conflict between the Caballeros Templarios drug cartel and local militias who took up armies to defend their communities against the group.

The offensive has led to a number of Templarios leaders’ being killed or captured.