Contents

Introduction

1

1. Framing the Serial Killer: El Mataviejitas Serial Killers, Mexican Anomie, and Narcosatánicos El Chalequero, Goyo Cárdenas, and Las Poquianchis The Hunt for El Mataviejitas

25 35 48 58

2. The Look of the Serial Killer: El/La Mataviejitas La Cara del Mexicano “Se buscan” “¡Ayúdanos a prevenir!” From El Mataviejitas as “Brilliant” to La Mataviejitas as “Pathological” The “Look” of a Serial Killer

63 76 79 91 106

3. Performing Mexicanidad I: Criminality and Lucha Libre Born Mexican: Born Criminal, Born Wrestler Nicknames, Masks, and Disguises Killing as Performance

111 117 131 138

4. Performing Mexicanidad II: Criminality and La Santa Muerte Feminicides in Estado de México and Ciudad Juárez Spiritual Sisters: La Virgen de Guadalupe and La Santa Muerte La Catrina and La Santa Muerte La Santa Muerte and Jesús Malverde: The Saints of Narcos

145 150 164 174 178

Conclusion

185

Acknowledgments 201 Notes 205 Bibliography 241 Index 259 About the Author 271 vii

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