Santa Muerte Tattooed U.S. Teen Rosalio Reto Was Hit Man For Mexican Drug Cartel

Rosalio Reta and Gabriel Cardona were just like any other dumb teen guys - only they happened to work as hit men for a Mexican drug cartel. Reta was initiated as an assassin at the age of 13, recruited into “Los Zetas” after he and friends visited cantinas and bars south of the border.

Reta and Cardona participated in six-month training courses on Mexican ranch, learning how to shoot to kill. Reta reminisces about his first time:  ”I thought I was Superman. I loved doing it, killing that first person. They tried to take the gun away, but it was like taking candy from kid.”

The teenagers were each paid $500 a week as a retainer, waiting around until they were neded to go out and kill. Eventually, they began receiving up to $50,000 and 2 kilos of cocaine for carrying out hits for the cartel. The two stayed in safe houses around Laredo, Texas, getting around town in a Mercedes.

As they became more and more immersed in their new “occupations,” (Which, as we know from looking at Joaquin Guzman, provides lots of opportunities for advancement.), the teens began accumulating various tattoos - including lots of facial tattoos, tattoos of eyes on the back of their eyelids, and tattoos of Santa Muerte. It’s almost as if they were trying to let people know, hey! I’m never going to college.

The two, however, had other hobbies. Like the culinary arts. Carona recalls killing a 14-year-old and his cousin, and then melting the two boys down into stew. It’s good to have role models.

Police: U.S. teens were hit men for Mexican cartel [CNN]