387:$ 30,000 and worked through his philanthropic organization, Latin American Institute of Philanthropy, to acquire representation to make motions on their behalf. The head of a social service prepared the case. A member of the human rights commission in Jalisco wrote in support of the Huichol men. In 2001, lawyers presented a case to judges that evidence pointed to falling and after a closed hearing to review the evidence, judges released the two men. In May 2002, the case went to the state appeals court. Those judges reversed the acquittal and handed down a 13-year sentence, but because of further appeals, the now convicted men remained free while their appeal could run its course. In February 2003, the federal appeals court found fault with a judge in the lower court that had remained on the case after a request for recusal and so the case was sent back to the state and the convictions were also scrapped.
286:, convinced the President's office to commit resources to the search and afterward the missing person announcement was widely publicized. Margarito DĂaz, a Huichol hunter, announced he had found a body and guided the party to the site. The Mexican army located True's corpse 16 December 1998 inside a 330-foot deep mountain ravine in the Chapalagana Canyon (Translated from Huichol: "Canyon of the Twisted Serpent') on the Jalisco-Nayarit border. True's corpse had been moved between the time DĂaz first spotted it and the arrival of the search part. The corpse was found in his sleeping bag alongside a river and was covered in dirt with his neck wrapped with his bandanna. At first, the media reported True had accidentally fallen into the ravine, but Jalisco's coroner told
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a local plant used as a stimulant in the Sierra. True could have used this medication to suppress the effects of high altitude and low temperatures. An injury not located in the first autopsy report was a blow to the back, behind his right lung, which could have caused True to lose consciousness and to stop breathing while his lungs filled with fluid. The report could also be interpreted as a fall caused the blunt trauma. A third forensics report revised the previous two autopsy reports. The report's findings were that True suffered a pulmonary edema which resulted from a head injury and could be interpreted that he was not strangled.
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worked. While Gatins originally supported the two
Huichol men, he argued that Mexican justice did work when it freed them, while Rivard made the case that justice would not be served if guilty parties were freed. Martha True said she had been disappointed by the closed process and was surprised when the 2001 release. By the end of 2003, Gatins had switched his support to Rivard and True's position.
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The second autopsy was performed in Mexico City where an FBI forensics expert was to observe the autopsy. Toxicology reports showed that True had a higher than normal blood alcohol level at the time of his death and detected trace amounts of aminovalerico, which is an over-the-counter derivative of
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The first of the two autopsies performed on True in
Jalisco, Mexico revealed that he was strangled with his own bandanna. The autopsy further revealed signs of torture, which was inconsistent with the confession. The autopsy also uncovered signs that he had been bludgeoned perhaps with a stick. Cuts
359:
The investigations focused on Juan
Chivarra de la Cruz, 28, and Miguel Hernandez de la Cruz, 24, two men of Huichol heritage who were brothers-in-law. After the arrest, the two confessed, but would later recant, initially saying they had killed True for taking unauthorized photographs or that he had
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first offered government resources to find True after he had disappeared and later ordered an investigation into the murder the U.S. reporter. After
Zedillo, President Vicente Fox intervened in support of the family. Miguel Gatins and Robert Rivard questioned whether the Mexican justice system
383:, as his father had been a hotelier there, and then he resided in Guadalajara. After taking an interest in the case, Gatins was convinced based on contradictions in their interrogation and in the autopsies that there was no conclusive proof that murder had been committed. Gatins spent
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In
November 2003, Gatins reversed his decision to support the men on the basis that new evidence had convinced him of the men's guilt. By 2004, the state appeals court had reinstated the conviction, sentenced the men to 20 years
258:, worked as the head of a nonprofit environmental agency in Mexico City. When True traveled to learn more about the Huichol Indians, Martha was four months pregnant with their first child. The couple had one son, Teo.
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274:. After reviewing the idea, Fred Bonativa turned it down, and so True decided to work on it during his vacation time. True planned a ten-day trip that would take him through the state of Jalisco to
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and bruises all over True's arms could have indicated torture or some kind of defensive wounds. The report concluded that True was dead before he ended up in the deep ravine.
282:, was last seen 4 December in Chalmotita, Jalisco, and his wife reported him missing on 10 December. After the initial search for True failed, Robert Rivard, editor of the
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in Mexico City for three years in Mexico City. He twice tried to convince his editor to let him pursue a story about the
Huichol Indians, who lived in a settlement in the
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395:, and also set a sum for damages; however, the men had disappeared after their 2001 release. The case currently remains unresolved until the two men can be located.
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Carl, Traci (August 4, 2001). "Suspects released after study finds U.S. journalist fell, wasn't killed while hiking in Mexico". Associated Press.
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Struck, Myron (August 16, 2001). "State
Department Says Journalist's Death In Mexico Was Murder; Requires Resolution". States News Service.
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The case against
Chivarra and Hernandez changed after Miguel Gatins, an American businessman, intervened on their behalf. Gatins lived in
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AP (February 20, 2003). "Mexican court overturns convictions of two men in killing of U.S. journalist". Mexico City: Associated Press.
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By April 1999, Juan
Chivarra told True's former newspaper that they had made statements under the duress of pressure from police.
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604:"Widow of slain journalist says she forgives killers: Former Brownsville reporter was killed while working on a story in Mexico"
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bureau and then became its correspondent in Mexico City, Mexico. His most notable works of journalism were his coverage of the
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Ferriss, Susan (August 5, 2001). "Suspects in death of
American released from prison in Mexico". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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AP (December 14, 1998). "Search intensifies for Texas reporter missing in western Mexico". Mexico City: Associated Press.
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True traveled 370 miles from Mexico City to Tuxpan to start his 65 mile trek through the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico.
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La Chapalagana Canyon (Huichol for "Canyon of the Twisted Serpent'), Sierra Madre Occidental, Jalisco (state), Mexico
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211:, where he graduated in 1970. After college he was a dock worker and union representative, as well as a drywaller.
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1036:"Court confirms convictions in murder of U.S. journalist". Mexico City: Deutsche Presse-Agentur. April 28, 2004.
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Trail of Feathers: Searching for Philip True, a Reporter's Murder In Mexico and His Editor's Search for Justice
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Trail of Feathers: Searching for Philip True: A Reporter's Murder in Mexico and His Editor's Search for Justice
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created an internal award for staff whereby the paper's journalists are judged by their peers in categories.
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Sullivan, Kevin (August 11, 2001). "Late Journalist's Wife, Editor Dispute Acquittal of 2 Mexicans".
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AP. "Texas newspaper reporter listed missing in southern Mexico". Mexico City: Associated Press.
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Sierra Madre Occidental with a view across Rio San Ignacio from near the village of Guajurana.
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Schiller, Dane (January 9, 1999). "Alcohol poisoning suspected in U.S. journalist's murder".
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trespassed on Huichol lands or that he had shown disrespect to their relatives.
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Los Angeles Valley College and University of California, Irvine (1970)
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639:"Obituaries". St. Petersburg Times. December 25, 1998. p. 9A.
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Philip and Martha True were married for 7 years and had lived in
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network news that the autopsy indicated True had been murdered.
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1093:"Six at 'San Antonio Express-News' Receive Philip True Awards"
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While in his forties, True became a journalist, first for the
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Statements from Miguel Gatins, Martha True, and Robert Rivard
966:"New Twist in Case of U.S. Reporter Killed in Mexican Hills"
167:. While on a ten-day, 65-mile trek to learn about the
909:"Mexico's Acquittals in American's Death Stir Anger"
610:. Associated Press. January 29, 2006. Archived from
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149:(18 June 1948 – 16 December 1998) was an American
278:state. He started his journey 1 December 1998 in
1011:"Breakthrough in '98 Murder of Texas Journalist"
699:"U.S. Journalist Slain in Mexico, Autopsy Shows"
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819:"2 Now Deny Killing U.S. Reporter in Mexico"
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1095:. Editor & Publisher. February 27, 2007
878:"Reporter's Death in Mexico: Mystery Grows"
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254:since 1996. Martha, a native Mexican from
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1168:20th-century American non-fiction writers
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266:Philip True had been a correspondent for
577:. Newsweek (republished in PR Newswire.
1148:University of California, Irvine alumni
728:"Mexicans Find Body Of U.S. Journalist"
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1017:from the original on December 30, 2013
1009:Fitzgerald, Mark (November 25, 2003).
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976:from the original on January 12, 2014
581:from the original on 25 December 2013
553:"Mexico To Probe US Reporter's Death"
7:
919:from the original on January 1, 2015
792:. Committee to Protect Journalists.
697:Preston, Julia (December 18, 1998).
447:List of journalists killed in Mexico
907:Smith, James F. (August 11, 2001).
336:
1183:20th-century American male writers
790:"Philip True - Journalists Killed"
224:after 1992. As a reporter for the
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1173:20th-century American journalists
1153:Assassinated American journalists
1062:from the original on 7 April 2015
1050:Ayala, Elaine (March 22, 2011).
888:from the original on 27 May 2015
876:Dillon, Sam (January 13, 1999).
573:Zarembo, Alan (March 22, 1999).
437:New York: Public Affairs, 2005.
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307:
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209:University of California, Irvine
44:December 10, 1998 (aged 50)
829:from the original on 2015-03-03
796:from the original on 2013-06-13
767:from the original on 2013-12-25
738:from the original on 2013-12-25
709:from the original on 2013-12-25
676:from the original on 2013-12-17
551:Levi, Isaac A. (Dec 17, 1998).
462:Disappearance of Zane Plemmons
1:
1163:Murdered American journalists
1052:"Express-News honors its own"
1158:Journalists killed in Mexico
964:Weiner, Tim (June 1, 2002).
519:. New York: Public Affairs.
668:Patoski, Joe (2001-10-01).
203:, and he attended both the
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757:"2 Held in Mexico Killing"
205:Los Angeles Valley College
140:Philip Theodore "Teo" True
1178:American male journalists
220:in 1990 and then for the
1056:San Antonio Express-News
575:"DEATH IN THE MOUNTAINS"
422:San Antonio Express-News
420:: After his murder, the
284:San Antonio Express-News
268:San Antonio Express-News
226:San Antonio Express-News
222:San Antonio Express-News
164:San Antonio Express-News
123:San Antonio Express-News
35:San Fernando, California
511:Rivard, Robert (2005).
262:Disappearance and death
173:Sierra Madre Occidental
1143:Journalists from Texas
608:The Brownsville Herald
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763:. December 28, 1998.
734:. December 17, 1998.
195:Philip True was from
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151:foreign correspondent
849:The Washington Times
817:AP (April 5, 1999).
351:class=notpageimage|
228:, he had worked the
940:The Washington Post
555:. apnewsarchive.com
238:Pope John Paul II's
71:Cause of death
16:American journalist
418:Philip True Awards
403:Mexican President
217:Brownsville Herald
193:
823:Los Angeles Times
672:. Texas Monthly.
375:Legal proceedings
315:Colotlán, Jalisco
247:in January 1998.
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111:Years active
62:December 16, 1998
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670:"True Story"
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64:(1998-12-16)
54:Corpse found
1138:1998 deaths
1133:1948 births
1021:December 2,
923:December 2,
393:in absentia
343:Mexico City
252:Mexico City
155:Mexico City
147:Philip True
132:Martha True
87:Nationality
41:Disappeared
23:Philip True
1127:Categories
1099:2013-12-02
833:2013-12-03
800:2013-09-27
771:2013-09-27
742:2013-09-27
713:2013-09-27
680:2013-12-03
618:2013-11-05
559:2013-12-02
526:158648222X
473:References
201:California
106:Journalist
103:Occupation
1066:1 October
892:1 October
585:1 October
457:Brad Will
399:Reactions
256:Matamoros
95:Education
1060:Archived
1015:Archived
974:Archived
917:Archived
913:LA Times
886:Archived
827:Archived
794:Archived
765:Archived
736:Archived
707:Archived
674:Archived
579:Archived
441:See also
288:Televisa
207:and the
161:for the
137:Children
119:Employer
381:Atlanta
276:Nayarit
177:Jalisco
114:8 years
523:
412:Awards
230:Laredo
159:Mexico
129:Spouse
74:Murder
51:Status
241:visit
1068:2013
1023:2013
982:2013
925:2013
894:2013
587:2013
521:ISBN
429:Book
245:Cuba
236:and
59:Died
29:Born
243:to
153:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
