In 1961, outsiders arrived in the remote Mexican village of Yab Bua, leading to a series of events that culminated in a massacre by authorities. This is the true story of Yab Bua and the bloody cult that led to its destruction.
Key Takeaways
- The cult was led by fraternal twins Magdalena and Elizar Soless.
- The twins used spiritism to manipulate the villagers.
- The cult’s rituals escalated to human sacrifices.
- The authorities intervened after a year of gruesome events.
The Arrival of Outsiders
The small indigenous farming community of Yab Bua was truly remote, with no roads, electricity, or running water. In 1961, fraternal twins Magdalena and Elizar Soless, aged 16, ventured into Yab Bua. They had grown up in Monterrey, where they learned about spiritism, a religious study of the supernatural deeply rooted in Mexican indigenous culture.
Manipulation Through Spiritism
Magdalena and Elizar used the villagers’ beliefs to their advantage, claiming to be adepts of the true ancient religion. They initially asked for food and shelter, slowly revealing their supposed identities and knowledge of the old gods. The twins used a drugged potion to convince the villagers of their lies, incorporating animal blood and elaborate costumes into their rituals.
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The Rise of the Cult
Two groups formed in Yab Bua: believers and doubters. The twins ordained two faithful villagers, Santos and Cayetano Hernandez, to help perform rituals and extract tributes from non-believers. The Hernandez brothers, cruel and authoritative, constructed a temple in the mountain caves above Yab Bua. The twins lived lavishly, but a conflict of interest grew between them and the Hernandez brothers.
The First Human Sacrifice
In the spring of 1962, the twins performed a ritual involving a human sacrifice. The villagers, drugged and convinced by the twins’ lies, willingly offered themselves. Santos and Cayetano made quick and gruesome work of the first victim, using the blood in their potion and burning the remains. This marked the beginning of a series of monthly sacrifices.
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The Final Sacrifice and Police Intervention
On May 31, 1963, the villagers gathered for another sacrifice. Hector Soless, unable to bear the atrocities, tried to intervene but was overpowered. He reported the cult to the police, leading to a raid. The authorities, led by Inspector Abalo G. Gomez, confronted the cultists. A violent confrontation ensued, resulting in the deaths of the Hernandez brothers and several cult members. The police captured Magdalena and Elizar Soless and dismantled the cult.
