What is the ‘Santa Muerte’ death cult? Cleveland shooting accused Francisco Oropesa had shrine at home
CUT AND SHOOT, TEXAS: A man, who allegedly gunned down five of his neighbors including a child, had put up a shrine of Santa Muerte at his home. As per reports, it has now been speculated that Francisco Oropesa has relations to the criminal underworld as he had controversial tattoos, including a skeleton figure with a sickle of the Santa Muerte cult, on his body.
The 38-year-old alleged gunman was arrested on Tuesday, May 2, after a four-day manhunt. He allegedly shot dead 25-year-old Sonia Argentina Guzman; nine-year-old Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman; 21-year-old Diana Velazquez Alvarado; 31-year-old Julisa Molina Rivera; and 18-year-old Jose Jonathan Casarez, on Friday, April 28, after he was told not to fire his AR-15 rifle in his backyard.
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The accused is reportedly a repeatedly deported Mexican fugitive. Am unnamed law enforcement officer, who reportedly went to Oropesa’s house, told the Center for Immigration Studies that his master room featured a big "Santa Muerte death cult” shrine. Along with the shrine, several statues showing many patron saints, a pile of $2 bills, fresh flowers and an offering of what appeared to be drugs filled in tinfoil were also discovered.
'It's not a satanic Mass'
According to JSTOR Daily, “The cult of Santa Muerte is generally very similar to other saint worship in Mexican folk Catholicism. As with Santa Muerte, some of these are not formal, canonized saints. Followers may seek healing or magical favors.”
It adds, “While faith in Santa Muerte can be found in the Mexican organized crime world—as well as among sex workers and in LGBTQ communities—Michalik writes that it also has close connections with a commercialized flavor of New Age spirituality.”
In 2017, Daniel Santana, a lifelong devotee of Santa Muerte, told BBC, “It's a widely misunderstood faith. It's not a satanic Mass. She gives people what they want and when they finish their cycle of life here on earth she comes for their souls. She's just fulfilling God's orders.”
However, Jaeson Jones, a retired Texas Department of Public Safety Captain, asserted to the Center for Immigration Studies, “Anyone who has a Santa Muerte shrine is linked to the criminal underworld. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re connected to the cartels, even though the cartels all over Mexico follow the cult. But you can at least link him to the criminal underground through Santa Muerta.”
‘Thank you to all of the citizens that provided tips and support’
After his arrest, Oropesa was placed at the Montgomery County Jail without incident. In a statement, San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office said, “Oropeza will be magistrated, then brought back to the San Jacinto County Jail where he will be held on a five million dollar bond.”
The statement citing Sheriff G Capers noted, “I cannot begin to express my sincere gratitude to all of my deputies, investigators, command staff, ancillary staff, as well as all of the law enforcement officials, agencies and divisions that provided aide and support during this manhunt. Thank you to all of the citizens that provided tips and support in this investigation. Any additional details will be provided as they become available.”