By ACI for Borderland Beat
They called him the hand with eyes, his legacy was one which left heads severed through out central
Mexico. His organization thrived on fear and violence and from the shadows he killed. As his narcobanners continued to appear his reputation grew into myth. He was a modern day psychopath, one of many in
Mexico. Their hands stained with blood, their souls deprived of conscience, these men roam the highways of
Mexico, killing, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. This is an examination of one of these monsters.
He openly admitted to killing 300 by his own hand and bragged about ordering another 600, if his claim is true he would rank as one of the worlds most
prolific killers. He surpasses many who haunt dreams, Jack the Ripper, John Wayne Gacey, Ted Bundy, to name a few. These are men, who inspired nightmares and slasher films; whose crimes have become infamous throughout generations. But
Óscar Osvaldo García Montoya may not even go down as one of Mexico’s most prolific killers; he may just simply be another one of Mexico’s psychopaths.
Óscar Osvaldo García Montoya or “El Compayito” as he was originally known as, was a native son of Sinaloa. Born in 1975 in the town of Gausave, located in the northern part of the state, Garcia Montoya grew up in an abusive and neglectful household. He enlisted in the Mexican Marines receiving training from one of the most brutal and feared elite forces in Central America, the Kaibiles. This sets Garcia Montoya apart from many of his counterparts in Mexico, while many came from broken homes, most have never served in the Marines much less received training from los Kaibiles. The Kaibiles; a product of the cold war, have a reputation for producing killing machines; men who kill without thought or conscience. Created in 1975 to combat the civil war in Guatemala, the Kaibiles quickly earned a reputation of brutality. The training which was supposed to have been heavily influenced by the CIA is perceived by many as torturous. From having to forfeit any previous medals or honors, to having to drink the blood of animals for courage; these methods of training are designed to take away individuals identity and replace it with one of a stone cold killer. Garcia Montoya would later boast that the Kaibiles trained him to become a killer.
He returned to Mexico and left the Marines to become a police officer in Baja California, and it is thought from here he entered into the world of the cartels around 2002. He was brought to the attention of José Gerardo Álvarez known as"El Indio,” who at the time was a powerful lieutenant of Arturo Beltan Levya. Garcia Montoya due to his background was promoted to chief of security for Gerardo Alvarez.
In 2008 Arturo, broke from the Sinaloan Federation and went to war with Guzman and Zambada. When Arturo was killed in 2009, his faction splintered, with Gerardo Alvarez and Edger Villarreal known as “La Barbie” going against Arturo’s brother Hector or “El H.” The ensuing war left bodies piled up throughout much of Sinaloa and Guerrero. With the arrests of Villarreal and Alvarez, Garcia Montoya was left without a master and without a leash. He began a systematic murder spree which aim was to control the local drug trade around Mexico City. In 2009 Garcia Montoya beheaded 24 laborers in the La Marquesa area of Mexico City, a crime which at the time shocked the nation, for it’s level of brutality.
In December 2010 the authorities recognized his organization, in February he left a head with the message; "I'm Arturo García Pacheco and this happened to me for thinking I was under the protection of los gaseros and los fox. Also, I was an extortionist. To the people, it appears you do not understand: this plaza already has an owner. You don't know what I have in store for all those who pass themselves off as "tough guys." You're next Lalo, Charly, Belen, Negrom Jacobo, and you too Mecho. I'm going after all the rats, rapists, and extortionists. The Plaza Has An Owner. ATTE La Mano Con Ojos
This was the first of many victims claimed by Garcia Montoya. His next victims were a man and a woman were left Naucalpan; both had their head severed, left with another ominous note from La Mano Con Ojos.
Another head and another messege: My name is Ivan Cruz and this happened to me for working with LFM and for extorting business owners by falsely claiming the I am la Mano con Ojos. Let us all be clear about one thing: La Mano con Ojos doesn’t kidnap or use extortion to make his money, and whoever does so in my plaza will get whats coming to them. ATTE La Mano con Ojos
Many victims were taken to what appeared to be mechanic shop, which in reality served as a killing house. It is thought that many of those killed were taken here, that this was where the beheadings took place. While no blood was seen, officers used luminol, a chemical agent that reacts with trace levels of blood. The room glowed brightly under the black lights, it was clear this place was full of death.
In August of 2011 he was arrested. He was interviewed by Attorney General Alfredo Castillo.
Chivis did an excellent translation of the interview..
What is your name?
Oscar Osvaldo Garcia Montoya
How old are you?
36 years old
Where are you from?
Guasave Sinaloa, raised in Los Mochis, Sinaloa
What are you called?
La Mano Con Ojos (hand with eyes)
Which organization did you work for?
The Beltran Leyva Cartel
Whaich area did you work in?
Naucalpan, Atizapan, Cultitlan, Tultitlan, Huixquilucan and parts of the Federal Distrct
How many addresses did you have?
I had three addresses, one in Naucalpan, on Pinon Street, another in Luis Cabrera and the other one around Becale in Tlalpan, in Naucalpan, I had two other addresses close to Visas City.
Where did you start you life of crime?
I started in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan
Who was you mentor?
Raul, in Zihuatanejo, that was the frist time I meet him. We went to Lazaro Cardenas, but we were sent back. the people we were supposed to take out were not identified yet, when we got there they told us the plan had not turned out right, whoever want to leave may go, whoever wants to stay, well you can stay and work.
And you stayed to work?
I stayed to work
Who did you stay on with?
I stayed with Raul, and from there I was commissioned here in Pedregal, then we went to Cuernavaca to work with Don Arturo, before he passed away, I was commissioned to work with La Barbie. I spent very little time with La Barbie because he already had his people, so he sent me to work with El Indio, under him I became his security Chef, I was in charge of all his bodyguards, hitman, basically chief of everything.
Were you involved in the incident of La Marqueza?
Yes
Did you participate in the Kidnapping?
Yes
It was in Olivo, wasn't it?
Yes
And were you involved in their executions?
No, not in the executions
Why didn't you participate?
Because one guy wanted to kill them all, I mean only one person executed them, all of them
Who did it then?
Raul I accompanied them to Marquez, I was trustworthy so I had to go
Why were they killed?
Because they had seen faces they shouldn't have, they were also mislead, mostly though because they saw faces, they were innocent people. The saw too many faces, they couldn't be let go, we had no choice. When Indio was captured, I went to La Barbie and he told me to take over the structure of El Indio.
What structure?
Well he had control of Huixquilucan and Naucalpan, at the time I was handling about 25 halcones.
And did you have the support of the Municipal Police?
At that time yes, we did have the support of the police because I was paying them. Ricaldi was a former police of Huixquilucan, he worked directly with El Pelacas.
Who did El Pelacas kidnapped?
He kidnapped that bearded guy from PAN, what's his name, ummm Don Diego Fernadez de Cevallo
How do you know that was the man responsible for Don Diego's kidnapping?
Because information is information, I'm telling you everything is known when you are in the business. Who did this, who did that, everything is known.
Is el Pelacas the one in charge of that organization, who supports them, are they still operating?
He has always operated with the financial support of el Hongo from the Central Cartel. When I was given Indio's Structure, my buddy was captured. When Montemayor was captured I kept the structure I had been given. It was when El JJ wanted to take everything away from me, he wanted to take everything from me from the beginning.
JJ thought he should have everything that belonged to his father, but JJ never fought for any of it, it was given to him. JJ was a coward, he never went to fight when we fought in Monterrey, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Guadalajara, Michoacan, or Guerrero. He never fought once, he was given a zone like an inheritance, but he never earned it, he was giving everything I was given nothing. I didn't come from that kind of background, I came from the bottom, and worked my way up. This is why I don't like that kind of stuff. I was also a cop in la Paz, and los Mochis, I was also a corporal in the Marine Infantry, 4th Batallion in La Paz. I also took 6 courses in Antibomb training and counter insurgency, I was trained to kill.
Where did you receive training?
In Guatemala, I am Kaibil, a person who is trained to kill and survive anything.
How executions have you ordered?
I ordered about 600
And how many did you kill?
Another 300, with my own hands about 300
And how did you decapitate them?
With my hands, knifes and saws.
Those you killed on election day, how did you do it?
With my hands, I started picking up people that Monday
Was it planned to have them picked up and executed on election day?
Exactly true
Why?
To call attention, I reasoned it was a special day, a day where it would hard to cover up. That is why I ordered it and did it, I read about it in the news, I buy newspapers everyday, to read up on the how the system is working and what people are saying about the situation. Yes, yes I used to watch you (referring to the attorney general), and I watched what you said. Every time I watched you, I would cuss at you, I am sincere, I was cussed at you because I had a lot of anger toward you.
You are telling me that it was personal between you and I, you thought I betrayed you?
I will tell you something, I mean there was no betrayal, I mean you didn't betray me, because frankly I was the one deceived, I had given money thinking you were paid for. He told me you received it so yes I thought you betrayed me, but now I know that wasn't true. I mean he was the one who deceived you and me.
What did you did you do to that person?
I killed him
Can you confirm that?
Yes, I got him, picked him up and killed him
And did he tell you he had given me the money?
He told me the documents were delivered , he said it was delivered
But who did he give it to?
Well that was the problem, I am telling you I could not get anymore information out of him and that was a serious issue, I couldn't have a person of that kind of weight with me. And because I was so angry he deceived me I gave the Oder to execute him as soon as possible.
He was the the one that deceived you? The one you gave 40,000 dollars to?
400,000 dollars
And he was the one who was going to deliver it?
Exactly
But you still thought the money was delivered?
Exactly, it was stuck in my head, that was why I took it personally against you. I didn't have any problems with the attorneys office, but directly with you, because that is what they made me believe. Now I realized that I was wrong.
What would've you done if we didn't catch you?
I would've killed you, I would've looked for you and cut you into pieces. Just like that I would have done that, I am telling you my anger towards you was intense, I was even going to send you a video.
A video?
Yes a video directed at you
What was it going to say?
It was going to say everything that was happening in the state. but you didn't let me, look you have me her already, now you can say you poked the eyes of the hand.
Why do you call yourself La Mano Con Ojos?
I chose that because I see everything, I hear everything.
But that doesn't make sense?
No No, well I guess that's the point, its a distraction, I was El Compayito and with this type of organization, it needs to have to have a concept, a foundation, a name that makes me look stronger and intimidating and to get attention mostly.
Then you were going to kill 6 people this weekend?
6 or7, I almost had them ready
Do you have them now?
No, no, no, we were working on it but motherfucker.... And they were to be used in my video to you, you were going to see how I was going to execute them, because I was going to do it personally, you were going to see me in action, the message was to be directed to you.
What about the person you killed and dumped at the school?
Oh the one I put a thong and a pink bra on?
Yes that one......
That was a fucking coward, I killed him because he was turning me down, all my strongmen, he was playing tough.
Who are your strongmen?
My strongmen are the hawks.
How many hawks do you have in you zone?
Now, now I just have 5, I don't need more
How many hitmen do you have?
Now about 50 people.
Are they all well armed?
Yes everyone has their own equipment
Who else wanted to work with you?
People of the Gulf, Zetas but I never wanted to work with them because they all extort and kidnap the people and I disagree with this, so that is why I never accepted any alliance with them, but they did offer proposals, the last came from the Arellanos.
Do you work independently?
Totally, I am completely independent since the time my partner was captured, he was the last that i worked with. after that i went independent, I was fighting with JJ, and killed someone working for him. in his territory. From then on I was at war with him.
Who did you kill from his group?
A strongman he had there and a hawk, I killed him fast and easy.
Who do you hate?
All the people that betrayed me.
Who betrayed you?
JJ betrayed me
Who else?
Ricaldi is another person that I hate.
The one that is with El Pelacas?
El Pelacas, I have anger toward him and this other guy El Hongo
Would you like for us to send them to your cell?
Fuck I sure would like that! Fuck! I sure would like to kill the shot out of them I have immense anger towards those motherfuckers.
He is one of many;
Mexico has an infestation of psychopaths, monsters that are glorified through song and culture. La Mano Con Ojos is a product of the cartel wars. He would not have existed in any other time or place; his crimes would not have had the impunity which they received. The situation in
Mexico has bread a generation of killers like Montoya and to think he might not even be the worst, is most terrifying of all.
