TalkBaja.com » Baja Mexico Forums » General Discussion

I recently became aware of the murder of Wallace James Medieros of San Quintin that occurred on January 7, 2012. Wally, as commonly known, owned property adjacent to the Bahia de San Quintin kiteboarding venue that kiteboarders regularly visit. I always thought of this area as safe, but now have to wonder. Is San Quintin now less safe than it was previously?

Originally Posted by windjunkie

...I always thought of this area as safe...

That's not a word that I would choose to describe it.

More like a good place to be careful, think about security at night, and for sure don't camp alone on an isolated beach.

There is a very large population of migrant farm workers; very poor and from parts of Mexico far, far away. Also quite a bit of the meth scourge; hardly unique to San Quintín.

Our forum host Ron here along with his wife suffered a near-fatal violent attack last September west of town on the beach known as La Chorera.

Some robberies reported in the last year or two; here's some other violence there
Body by Jardines - TalkBaja.com - Baja Mexico Travel, Living and Retirement
San Quintin, News? - TalkBaja.com - Baja Mexico Travel, Living and Retirement
Ensenada.Net :: Noticias ::

Here's an older robbery about 3 years ago.
Armed Robbery At Cielito Lindo/San Quintin - TalkBaja.com - Baja Mexico Travel, Living and Retirement

I have a house by Ron's house and I haven't been over there in about a year, does Ron still have his house by La Chorera?

Can anyone confirm whether the body found behind Jardines - Body by Jardines - TalkBaja.com - Baja Mexico Travel, Living and Retirement - was Wally Medieros? Or is this yet another murder that took place in the same area?

Originally Posted by windjunkie

Can anyone confirm whether the body found behind Jardines - Body by Jardines - TalkBaja.com - Baja Mexico Travel, Living and Retirement - was Wally Medieros? Or is this yet another murder that took place in the same area?

Different murder.

In the El Vigía article posted in that thread
Ejecutan a hombre - El Vigía

they say it occurred Dec. 13, 2011 and the victim's name was Celestino Martínez Campos; 34 years old.

I searched online for "Wallace James Medieros" and learned from the articles that he was found in his home, not behind Jardines. Place was ransacked, and they took off with two vehicles later found torched.

I can confirm with > 80% certainty that BajaGringo still lives out at La Chorera.

The body reported to have been found behind Jardines was actually found over a kilometer distance away according to Guillermo, the owner of Jardines. As there isn't much else out there there wasn't much in the way of landmarks to identify the area and Jardines was the closest place. It certainly wasn't Wally and friends in the local LE ranks confided to me they believed it was a thief caught in the act whose victims chose to enforce their own remedy to the situation. They based that on the criminal history of the victim who had several priors for theft and burglary as well as the fact he was wearing a ski mask. I know of other similar rumors down here. People get tired of seeing the same criminals getting arrested over and over. It happens.

Is San Quintin "less safe" than a year ago? Probably not. There was always a risk of violence here, as well as most places on this planet. That risk existed a year ago (as Cristina and I well know) and still exists today. Some of the news lately including what happened to us and Wally shook many in the local community who up until that time perceived San Quintin to be somehow immune from such things.

Nowhere is.

I do take more care in where/how I move than before - north and south of the border. I am more concerned for the safety of a particular family member who works in LE north of the border, directly fighting drug gangs.

I pray for his safety each and every single night...

Is there a reason for the question other than curiosity?

Hi Ron, Don't know if you remember me, I meet you about 2 years ago, I own the house with the blue roof. Haven't been to SQ in a while, I couldn't walk for a while then I had total hip replacement surgery. Haven't talked to Reyes either, but you know he never tells us anything about what's going on over there. I"m so glad I found you on this site and I'm glad to hear you and the Mrs. are ok. I still don't know how to just talk to you and not everyone, haven't figuered it out.

Originally Posted by Sassafras

Hi Ron...still don't know how to just talk to you and not everyone, haven't figuered it out.

It's called a "Private Message" and there is a link to it right next to your Username where it says "Welcome" above. You also can click "User CP"(Control Panel) at the top of the page and it's about halfway down in the left column, and you can also click on Baja Gringo's name above his avatar in a post, and there will be an option to "Send A Private Message."

All 3 methods go to the same place.

thanks Marty