Members of the LeBaron family mourn at the site of an attack in Sonora, Mexico where nine women and children were killed
Members of the LeBaron family mourn at the site of an attack in Sonora, Mexico where nine women and children were killed AFP / Herika MARTINEZ

Mexican authorities on Tuesday announced that the arrested a man connected to the Monday ambush of a Mormon family.

The suspect was found in the hills of Agua Prieta, Sonora, with two bound hostages and large amounts of high-caliber weapons and ammunition. Most details have not been released and it is currently unclear how this suspect is connected to the attack and whether or not their hostages were from the attack as well.

“We are waiting for some more intelligence in order to issue an official statement.” Chihuahua attorney general Cesar Peniche Espejel said during a radio interview where he confirmed the arrest.

Espejel also theorized that Sinaloa cartel offshoot, Los Jaguares, might be responsible for the attack.

The attack killed nine members of the family that were traveling between Sonora and Chihuahua near the U.S.-Mexico border. The family lives in La Mora, a town 70 miles south of Douglas, Arizona, and operates a pecan orchard.

The U.S. has reportedly been looking at the La Línea cartel as potential culprits. Authorities believe that the family, who are U.S.-Mexico dual citizens, may have been targeted specifically, as they have had disputes with cartels in the past.

“Their long-standing tensions, and apparently the woman who was driving in the first car that was attacked was an activist,” former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda said about the attack. “She was someone who was very active in her community, defending her family, her fellow members of the community against cartels, on the issue of water rights."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has stated that the family is likely part of a fundamentalist offshoot of the Mormon church that practices polygamy.

"Though it is our understanding that they are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our love, prayers and sympathies are with them as they mourn and remember their loved ones," the church said in a statement about the family.

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