Benjamin LeBaron

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benjamin LeBaron
Personal details
Born Benjamín Franklin LeBaron Ray
(1976-10-04)October 4, 1976[1]
Died July 7, 2009(2009-07-07) (aged 32)
Cause of death Killed by drug cartel members during the 2009 Mexican drug war
Known For Leader in the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times and Anti-crime activism.
Residence Colonia LeBaron, Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico
Nationality Dual American-Mexican
Occupation Pecan farming and trade between Mexico and the US
Relatives Brother-in-law of fellow murder victim Luis Widmar

Benjamín "Benji" Franklin LeBaron Ray (October 4, 1976 – July 7, 2009) was an anti-crime activist and community leader in a fundamentalist Latter Day Saint community in Colonia LeBaron, Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico, who had founded the advocacy group SOS Chihuahua (Sociedad Organizada Segura or Secure Organized Society).[2] LeBaron, 32, a member of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times and a citizen of both Mexico and the United States, was murdered along with his brother-in-law Luis Carlos "Wiso" Widmar Stubbs, 29, on 7 July 2009, by a group of assailants.[3][4][5][6][7]

Activism

After LeBaron's death, the movement has operated without a single figurehead.[8][9] Mexico has strict gun control laws but began to train and supervise armed citizen's patrols among the Chihuahua religious enclaves.[10] This would be an extension of an existing program that trains members of remote Mexican indigenous tribes to man such patrols.[11] SOS Chihuahua's media contact, Karyn Longhurst of Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, said the group desires rapid response to kidnappings (presently the police must await a police report's being filed), the forfeiture of the assets of convicted kidnappers, mechanisms for reparations to victims, tightening of judicial and sentencing loopholes used by those suspected or convicted of kidnapping, increased prosecutions and punishments for those aiding and abetting kidnapping, including through official corruption.[12]

Death

Benjamin was killed on July 7, 2009 by a local drug cartel. Benjamin was captured and beaten by the cartel, which included 10 men, all armed,[13] in front of his family. They terrorized the wife and children and took him outside. When one of his brother-in-laws, Luis Widmar, heard the commotion, he ran to help Benji. They were both taken by the cartel and were later found beaten and shot to death outside of town. [14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/26/world/20090726-MEXICO_5.html
  2. ↑ http://notifamaestatal.blogspot.com/2009/07/piden-al-gobernador-acciones-decisivas.html
  3. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072203738.html?hpid=topnews
  4. ↑ http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=338985&CategoryId=14091
  5. ↑ http://m3report.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/mexico-mormons-who-stood-up-against-organized-crime-tortured-and-assassinated/
  6. ↑ http://mx.news.yahoo.com/s/26062009/38/n-mexico-12-muertos-deja-choque-sicarios.html
  7. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-killing9-2009jul09,0,7980677.story
  8. ↑ http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12769262?source=most_viewed
  9. ↑ http://166.70.44.68/blogs/plurallife/2009/07/benjamin-and-luis/
  10. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/world/americas/26mexico.html?_r=1&hp
  11. ↑ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gvQo4ayASQe6IFl1SXNx-MwsqI0gD99BTMI81
  12. ↑ http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705314165/Mexicans-to-rally-for-tougher-laws-in-wake-of-kidnappings.html
  13. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/09/world/fg-mexico-killing9
  14. ↑ http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2009528086_mexmormon24.html

External links

Recognized leaders[lower-alpha 1]
Disputed leaders[lower-alpha 2]
Early fundamentalist leaders
Leaders of the fundamentalist sects
The Apostolic United Brethren
The FLDS Church
The Centennial Park group
  • J. Marion Hammon
  • Alma A. Timpson
  • John W. Timpson
The Latter Day Church of Christ
The LeBaron Sects
Independents and other leaders
  1. ↑ [a] Mormon leaders prior to the start of the fundamentalist movement and recognized by most fundamentalists as legitimate church leaders.
  2. ↑ [b] Mormon leaders that made changes to church policies on plural marriage; recognition of legitimacy of leadership varies by fundamentalist group.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.