Baja and banditos

gbs · Since 19 Nov 2007 2 Posts New Member

In the summer 1984 myself (age 22) along with my sister (age 17), mother, and father were camping on a bluff overlooking the ocean just north of Ensanada. We were in separate vehicles; my sister and I in one and my parents in another. At approximately 2am a Mexican man knocked on my VW bus window and woke me up demanding money for camping. He said his uncle owned the property. Reluctantly I crawled out of bed and met him outside. Just then my dad came out of his camper to see what was going on. Again the man demanded money for camping. My dad refused to pay and insisted the man come back in the morning and then we would pay. The Mexican man got mad and yelled "Te gusta problemas, te gusta problemas??!!" (you like problems?). At which point he pulled out an 8" hunting knife and put it at my sister's throat. At the same time three other men appeared from the darkness. Now my teenage sister had a knife to her throat and we were surrounded by Mexican men.

The man with the knife to my sister's throat immediately demanded that we get down on the ground. My dad was reluctant so they began kicking him as he slowly got down on his knees, then his belly. I complied by immediately getting to my belly. At this point my mom came out of the camper to see what was going on. We yelled at her to just get down on the ground like us. A man walked over to me and held a large boulder over his head as if to smash my head with it if I moved. He also stood on my hands (they were outstretched above my head) to keep me in place.

Once we were all immobilized the ringleader (the man with the knife to my sister's throat) demanded all of our money. One of his assistants went into my parent's camper and began rummaging around for wallets and money. Then he demanded that I tell them where my wallet was in my van. I tried to reply, but every time I spoke or moved my head the man standing on my hands would kick me in the head.

It was at this point I noticed that the man holding my sister at knifepoint was also feeling her up. This was sickening and I really feared that she would be raped. He also tormented her by pointing the tip of the knife into her cheek and telling her she was going to die. I felt paralyzed with fear and had no idea how to get out of the situation.

Things were not any better for my dad. They recognized him as being the leader of our small group, so they were relentlessly kicking him in the ribs and head while he lay prone. My dad was unable to get up without risking my sister's life. So he just laid there and took the punishment. Soon one of the assailants went back to his car and came back with a 2 foot long chunk of rebar. As my dad lay prone, he swung the bar and hit my dad in the temple, knocking him unconscious. Then the man with the knife handed my sister off to another man and went to get some rope to tie up my dad. Now I was really scared. I thought for sure we were all going to be killed.

Just when all seemed hopeless, the most unsuspecting person (my mom) came to the rescue. Unlike me or my dad, no one was holding down my mom (since she was a "harmless" middle aged woman). She approached the man with the knife and rope and began yelling at him "You want our money, we'll give you our money! Just leave us alone!". She got right in his face and was screaming at him like a crazy woman. He appeared stunned, and responded by jabbing the knife at my mother to keep her away. He stabbed her 5 times (3 times in the arms and 2 times in the midsection). Luckily the stab wounds weren't deep enough to cause life-threatening injury - but they did bleed a lot. At that moment my dad came back to consciousness and instinctively bolted to his feet and attacked the man with the knife that was stabbing my mom. As he attacked the man stabbed my dad through his right palm, severing nerves and tendons. But my dad was able to tackle him in the process.

From my vantage point I knew that immediately everything had changed and I had to get up. I pulled my hands out from under the man's feet that was standing over me and stood up as quickly as possible. He tossed the boulder at my head as I was getting up, but luckily it missed. I then charged at the man that was standing over me and tackled him. We were on a bluff so the force of my tackle sent us sliding down into the ravine below.

While I grappled with him in the ravine, my dad was on top of the man with the knife disparately trying to disarm him. My sister was able to break free from the man that was holding her and came to my father's aid. While my dad was struggling for the knife, my sister was on top of him as well, punching and scratching to get the knife out of his hands.

About this time I could hear my mom yelling "Where's Curt, where's Curt?". She didn't know where I was because I had rolled into the ravine with the man I was wrestling. I yelled back "I'm down here!". She looked over the edge and yelled "Kill him, kill him right now and let's get out of here!". I knew there was no way I could kill this man with my bare hands. All I wanted to do was leave. I had his wrists at the time, so I just pushed him as hard as I could and ran up the ravine, hoping he wouldn't chase me.

During this time my dad was able to get the knife out of the attackers hand. He reached around my sister's body (who was also laying on top of the man) and stabbed him in the side. Blood spurted out and my sister jumped off the man. My dad was mounted on top of the man at this point. He proceeded to stab the assailant over and over again in the midsection, trying for the heart. My dad didn't realize at the time that his right hand was virtually useless due to the stabbing injury. He could only hold the knife with his pinkie and thumb, which was not strong enough to break through the breastplate and pierce the heart. All the while the assailant was on his back screaming that his friends were coming with guns. Eventually my dad gave up on stabbing him in the heart and plunged the 8" knife into the man's eye socket and into his brain. That ended things pretty quickly.

Luckily the robbers were cowards and all ran away leaving their leader to die alone. We were able to gather our belongings and head back to the border to safety. My mom and dad were both covered in blood and had some pretty serious injuries (though not life-threatening) but my sister and I were fine. When we got to the border my parents walked directly to secondary inspection and an ambulance was called.

Even though that was almost 25 years ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Wow, there is some scary shit in this thread Shocked

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Nov 19, 07 3:09 pm

Holy Fuck GBS.
1. I want to buy you a beer.
2. I would not piss off your mom if I were you.

I thought my shit was intense, that takes the cake. Dude, how long was your dad messed up after stabbing some dude to death via his eye socket!!?

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

The more we traveled in Mx. the more of these type of stories we heard.
It's so sad that a country on the border with the worlds largest economy
is so poor.
My Long time friend lives on an island in the Puerto Vallarta area called Yalapa it has always been free of the Spainish rule and remains an indiginous peoples land.
It's a very rare thing for the local people to have thier ancestral lands.
My pal tells me and we heard it around the rest of the country too that the same 250 conquistidor families still own over 90% of the land, now thier numbers have risen to a quarter of a million.

Without the rule of law ,

the locals will make thier own laws

gbs · Since 19 Nov 2007 2 Posts New Member

My dad was a lieutenant in the San Diego Police Department at the time of the incident. It affected him deeply and within 5 years he got out with an early stress disability claim. He has lingering problems with his right hand (numbness, especially when cold). But otherwise he's fine.

Bill D · Since 14 Jul 2007 11 Posts New Member

Incredible personal accounts. I think my desire to drive to Baja with the familiy just went limp. Looks like the state department has issued a warning for US travlers.

Bettyboarder · Mon Nov 19, 07 5:22 pm

That is some crazy shit Shocked

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/11/18/finnstrom.mex.tourism.danger.cnn

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

heavy stuff gbs and monkey

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1871 Posts XTreme Poster

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

There are no travel warnings issued for Mexico by the State Department that I could find.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

If you are concerned by these posts ,
you should be
It's just like it appears.

My wife and I have spent 3 years roaming around MX.
All around the exterior, through the central highlands and up and down Baja.
As time goes on and everything escalates I'm sure its more dangerous all the time
But if you go like the locals ,,you'll be fine ,
,probably

We stayed one time out in the open in 3 yrs.(I was up most of the night)
There is a reason that the locals all have walls around thier homes
they are for defense.

We were always in one of these enclousures at night.
You are on your own ,your wits ,your best defense .
The person who calls the Police IS the problem.

We had a wonderful time and love the people of Mexico
They too are up against these same problems.

If you are planning a road trip
Get the book , 'Mexican Camping'
by Church and Church.

This couple has done all of MX. and are real experts on how to stay out of trouble.
We found that the more turistas the more the crime .

And if you are still uncertain watch the movie
"TURISTAS"
Or just go to S.P.I. its almost MX.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1871 Posts XTreme Poster

Some statistics:

http://www.benbest.com/lifeext/murder.html

Looks like Mexico is on par with Lousiana.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 387 Posts Seattle Obsessed

What happens if someone gets into a scuffle with one of these guys and kills one of them in defense? Is it like in the US where it is acceptable behaviour by courtrooms accross our country? Any comments GBS?

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Crazy stories - thx for sharing them. I've only had great baja experiences - I feel very lucky.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder