May 3, 2021 • 12 mins
Femicide - the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender. Countries across the globe are facing an epidemic, that epidemic is not a disease but nonetheless, an epidemic that is claiming the lives of young women. According to a 2000 report by the U.N at least 5,000 women are victims of femicide each year.
In 2013 one woman in Juarez decided that enough was enough and that she was going to take matters into her own hands. To this day, we simply know her as “Diana The Hunter of Bus Drivers”.
Social Media -
Twitter @truecrimewitch
Instagram @truecrimewitchpodcast
Facebook The True Crime Witch Podcast
Facebook Discussion Group Spooky Gang Discussion
Website https://truecrimewitchpodcast.wordpress.com/
Patreon patreon.com/truecrimewitchpod
Email truecrimewitch@outlook.com
Music https://www.purple-planet.com &https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiuESvEOlks
Sources -
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/diana-hunter-of-bus-drivers/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMurders/comments/9eu5yy/diana_the_hunter_killer_of_bus_drivers/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ciudad-juarez-killer-diana-huntress-targets-bus-drivers-mexico-8798825.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/04/world/americas/mexico-bus-driver-slayings/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/06/ciudad-juarez-bus-drivers-female-assassin-diana
In 2013 one woman in Juarez decided that enough was enough and that she was going to take matters into her own hands. To this day, we simply know her as “Diana The Hunter of Bus Drivers”.
Social Media -
Twitter @truecrimewitch
Instagram @truecrimewitchpodcast
Facebook The True Crime Witch Podcast
Facebook Discussion Group Spooky Gang Discussion
Website https://truecrimewitchpodcast.wordpress.com/
Patreon patreon.com/truecrimewitchpod
Email truecrimewitch@outlook.com
Music https://www.purple-planet.com &https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiuESvEOlks
Sources -
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/diana-hunter-of-bus-drivers/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMurders/comments/9eu5yy/diana_the_hunter_killer_of_bus_drivers/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ciudad-juarez-killer-diana-huntress-targets-bus-drivers-mexico-8798825.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/04/world/americas/mexico-bus-driver-slayings/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/06/ciudad-juarez-bus-drivers-female-assassin-diana
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
It broadcasts at one thirty eight am. From the very center of Hell.
Octoberpod finally a retro horror show whichoffers to bold individualists a look into
(00:22):
the maddening space between nightmare and nostalgia, true horror stories and found footage beyond
anything you've tested. October Pod offeredby Octoberpod vhs dot com in black and
(00:45):
white and color. Caution to avoidfainting, keep repeating. It's only on
YouTube only, on YouTube only,on YouTube only, on YouTube stream.
As much as you chair, goodevening, friends, I'm your host,
(01:30):
Emma, and you're listening to theTrue Crime Which podcast, the podcast that
takes you into everything murderous, mysteriousand dan my McCabe. If you like
what you here, please give mea five star ring on iTunes and follow
me on all my social media,which as always, will be linked down
below. I also have a Patreonfor those who want to make contributions to
the podcast and help make this myfull time job. I'm eternally grateful for
(01:53):
you all. This episode contains graphiccontent and listening to discretion is advised.
With that in mind, let's getinto the episode. This is episode forty
three, Diana, the hunter ofbus drivers. Femicide the killing of a
(02:16):
woman or a girl in particular bya man, and on account of agenda,
countries across the globe are facing anepidemic. That epidemic is not a
disease, but nonetheless an epidemic thatis claiming the lives of younger women.
According to eight two thousand report bythe UN, at least five thousand women
(02:37):
are victims of femicide each year.In the early nineteen nineties, the city
of Warez in Mexico began seeing astring of disturbing crimes. Young women and
girls of the city of Warez wouldmysteriously disappear, only to be found murdered,
mutilated, and dumped in the desert. Many of these women had been
(02:57):
raped and tortured before being killed.Left in desolate regions, It would take
months for their bodies to be discovered, and victims families are still left without
answers. The epidemic of femicide hasgotten so bad in the city of Wuarez
that officials have simply lost count asthe number of victims is just too high.
(03:19):
The last recorded statistic we have comesfrom two thousand and ten, where
officials reported that three hundred and fourwomen were killed in that year alone.
Attitudes towards the victims of only helpedperpetrators get away with it. Criminologist Oscar
Maynez told this American Life dot comquote, first they denied the problem,
(03:40):
then they played it down, andfinally they blamed the victims' lifestyle and their
families due police of Wuarez decided toblame the victims and their quote actions instead
of putting any effort into catching themen responsible. In actuality, the victims
were young women who had to worklong hours into the night to be able
(04:03):
to provide for their families. Theywere often attacked on their way to or
from work, and oftentimes they wereattacked by the bus drivers who they entrusted
to get them home. In twentythirteen, one woman decided that enough was
enough and that she was going totake matters into her own hands. This
(04:25):
day, we simply know her asDiana, the Hunter of bus Drivers,
and I will explain how we cameto that name a little bit later.
On on August twenty eighth, atseven forty five am, a middle aged
woman wearing a hat with either dyedblonde hair or a blonde wig put her
arm out at the stop for theseven to eight bus traveling along the four
(04:48):
eight bus route in Warres. Asshe climbed up the stairs to board the
bus, she slowly pulled out agun, shooting the bus driver, forty
five year old Jose Ra to Flora'sCarrera, in the head twice. The
drivers somehow managed to pull himself outof his seat and onto the pavement in
(05:08):
front of him, but this wasfutile. Within minutes, he had bled
out on the pavement and was declareddead at the scene. Witnesses were so
caught up in the manners of thesituation that none of them was really able
to give a clear description or informationabout how this mysterious woman I had escaped
or where she could have even gone. All they could tell police was that
(05:31):
she was a middle aged woman whohad either died blonde hair or was wearing
a blonde wig, and that shewas wearing a hat, a plaid or
tartan shirt, and jeans. Policewere left completely baffled. They were used
to deal them with shootings and otherhorrific crimes, but this one seemed somewhat
unmotivated. No money was stolen fromthe cab at the bus, and the
(05:56):
killer didn't stick around to pass onany message or even to watch her victim.
The people of Warros were used todealing with the cartel, and crimes
such as this became just another partof daily life. The cartel would often
gun people down in the street overbusiness matters, or just to take out
a rival gang member and make apoint. But police knew that deep down
(06:19):
this crime was very different and theywere worried. They were right to be
worried, and on August twenty nine, twenty thirteen, the same woman hopped
onto the seven eight bus along thefour eight bus route. This time her
plan differed slightly. She got onacted normal. She wrote the bus for
(06:41):
a few stops before pressing the bell, alerting the driver that she wanted to
get off at the next stop.As she approached the front of the bus,
the woman drew her gun, whisperedsomething into the bus driver's ear,
and then shot him twice in thehead. Her second victim was thirty two
year old Freddy Zeratim. As ithas been reported by some sources, although
(07:03):
I cannot confirm how credible they are, that what she whispered into his ear
before she shot him was quote,you guys think you're real bad, don't
you? End quote investigate as wellif baffled by the seemingly motiveless and brutal
crimes. That was until August thirty, twenty thirteen, the office of Lapolka
(07:28):
received a bizarre email from someone callingthemselves Diana the Hunter of bus Drivers.
The website is based in El Paso, but is dedicated to political like gossip
coverage of Warez, and the emailread the following. You think that because
we are women, we are weak, and that may be true, but
(07:50):
only up to a point. Becauseeven though we have nobody to defend us,
and we have to work long hoursuntil late into the night to earn
a living for our families, canno longer be silent in the face of
these acts that enrage us. Wewere victims of sexual violence from bus drivers
working the mcquilla nightshifts here in Wirez, and although a lot of people know
(08:11):
about the things we've suffered, nobodydefends us nor does anything to protect us.
That's why I am an instrument thatwill take revenge for many women.
For we as seen as weak,but in reality we are not. We
are brave, and if we don'tget our respect, we will earn that
(08:33):
respect with our own hands. Wethe women of Wirez, are strong.
Now. I'd like to point outthat in Roman mythology, Diana the Hunter
is the goddess of hunters, thecountryside, the crossroads, and the moon,
(08:54):
and she is also known to bea virgin and a protector of childbirth,
and to summer extent, the protectorof women. It's an interesting choice
for Diana to call us of Diana. It's unknown whether she intentionally choses because
of the mythological collection. Some articlesalso mentioned that there is a replica statue
(09:16):
of Diana the Hunter outside of arestaurant in Warez, where she can be
seen with a bow drawn, readyto fight. So perhaps that's where our
Diana drew her inspiration of a strongwoman ready to act on a very human
instinct of revenge, vengeance and anger. Following the two shootings, the bus
(09:37):
drivers of Wires were terrified and manyof them refused to go back to work
until Diana had been caught. Thereare thirty bus drivers who cover that route
that Diana targeted, and in astatement to CNM, one bus driver said
quote, there's only about fifty percentof us working. We're full of fear
(09:58):
after learning about this person who killedtwo of our colleagues, and nobody has
any clue. End quote. NowI found an interesting article written for This
American Life dot com, and theauthor, Yuri Herrera, explained how they
interviewed a twenty five year old womanwho we simply know as Laura, and
when asked what would you say toher if you knew her her being Diana,
(10:22):
Laura said, quote, I wouldcongratulate her. Yuri explains how they
had tried to speak to many womenof Warez about Diana, but all of
them seemed really hesitant and gave nocommon answers and sort of wanted to sweep
under the rug. However, Lauraseemed different in that respect. She was
(10:46):
much more open to talking about Dianaand the epidemic that women of Warez and
Mexico are currently facing. She alsotold Yuri, quote, I remember when
I was in high school and Iwould hear a lot about it. My
friends would say to me, ifyou're going on the route and no one
is there, take a pen withthe point facing outwards, because you never
(11:07):
know. That's been happening for years, years, and it's the same for
the ladies working in the mcquilla's endquote. Laura also told jury that her
younger sister had been the victim ofa home invasion in the weeks before Diana
struck. Laura told jury in aquote, I told her not to go,
(11:28):
not to expose herself to the police, because they would ask questions and
check her. I think between thepolice they've created sort of a code,
so you basically are putting yourself outthere to suffer one humiliation after the other.
End quote. Mexican authorities are stillno closer to catching Diana. They
(11:48):
have released a sketch, an approximationsketch, but it's yielded little to no
results for their investigation. Diana,the hunter of bus drivers, has left
the bus driver and Wuarez on tenderhooks, wondering if they will be their next
victim. That was this week's episode. I apologize that it's late, and
(12:11):
you know it's taken me a whileto get round to things, but life
is busy. If you like,oh you're here, please give me a
review. You can follow me onsocial media. All the black jazz and
remember friends, stay safe, butmost importantly, stay spooky,
It broadcasts at one thirty eight am. From the very center of Hell.
Octoberpod finally a retro horror show whichoffers to bold individualists a look into
(00:22):
the maddening space between nightmare and nostalgia, true horror stories and found footage beyond
anything you've tested. October Pod offeredby Octoberpod vhs dot com in black and
(00:45):
white and color. Caution to avoidfainting, keep repeating. It's only on
YouTube only, on YouTube only,on YouTube only, on YouTube stream.
As much as you chair, goodevening, friends, I'm your host,
(01:30):
Emma, and you're listening to theTrue Crime Which podcast, the podcast that
takes you into everything murderous, mysteriousand dan my McCabe. If you like
what you here, please give mea five star ring on iTunes and follow
me on all my social media,which as always, will be linked down
below. I also have a Patreonfor those who want to make contributions to
the podcast and help make this myfull time job. I'm eternally grateful for
(01:53):
you all. This episode contains graphiccontent and listening to discretion is advised.
With that in mind, let's getinto the episode. This is episode forty
three, Diana, the hunter ofbus drivers. Femicide the killing of a
(02:16):
woman or a girl in particular bya man, and on account of agenda,
countries across the globe are facing anepidemic. That epidemic is not a
disease, but nonetheless an epidemic thatis claiming the lives of younger women.
According to eight two thousand report bythe UN, at least five thousand women
(02:37):
are victims of femicide each year.In the early nineteen nineties, the city
of Warez in Mexico began seeing astring of disturbing crimes. Young women and
girls of the city of Warez wouldmysteriously disappear, only to be found murdered,
mutilated, and dumped in the desert. Many of these women had been
(02:57):
raped and tortured before being killed.Left in desolate regions, It would take
months for their bodies to be discovered, and victims families are still left without
answers. The epidemic of femicide hasgotten so bad in the city of Wuarez
that officials have simply lost count asthe number of victims is just too high.
(03:19):
The last recorded statistic we have comesfrom two thousand and ten, where
officials reported that three hundred and fourwomen were killed in that year alone.
Attitudes towards the victims of only helpedperpetrators get away with it. Criminologist Oscar
Maynez told this American Life dot comquote, first they denied the problem,
(03:40):
then they played it down, andfinally they blamed the victims' lifestyle and their
families due police of Wuarez decided toblame the victims and their quote actions instead
of putting any effort into catching themen responsible. In actuality, the victims
were young women who had to worklong hours into the night to be able
(04:03):
to provide for their families. Theywere often attacked on their way to or
from work, and oftentimes they wereattacked by the bus drivers who they entrusted
to get them home. In twentythirteen, one woman decided that enough was
enough and that she was going totake matters into her own hands. This
(04:25):
day, we simply know her asDiana, the Hunter of bus Drivers,
and I will explain how we cameto that name a little bit later.
On on August twenty eighth, atseven forty five am, a middle aged
woman wearing a hat with either dyedblonde hair or a blonde wig put her
arm out at the stop for theseven to eight bus traveling along the four
(04:48):
eight bus route in Warres. Asshe climbed up the stairs to board the
bus, she slowly pulled out agun, shooting the bus driver, forty
five year old Jose Ra to Flora'sCarrera, in the head twice. The
drivers somehow managed to pull himself outof his seat and onto the pavement in
(05:08):
front of him, but this wasfutile. Within minutes, he had bled
out on the pavement and was declareddead at the scene. Witnesses were so
caught up in the manners of thesituation that none of them was really able
to give a clear description or informationabout how this mysterious woman I had escaped
or where she could have even gone. All they could tell police was that
(05:31):
she was a middle aged woman whohad either died blonde hair or was wearing
a blonde wig, and that shewas wearing a hat, a plaid or
tartan shirt, and jeans. Policewere left completely baffled. They were used
to deal them with shootings and otherhorrific crimes, but this one seemed somewhat
unmotivated. No money was stolen fromthe cab at the bus, and the
(05:56):
killer didn't stick around to pass onany message or even to watch her victim.
The people of Warros were used todealing with the cartel, and crimes
such as this became just another partof daily life. The cartel would often
gun people down in the street overbusiness matters, or just to take out
a rival gang member and make apoint. But police knew that deep down
(06:19):
this crime was very different and theywere worried. They were right to be
worried, and on August twenty nine, twenty thirteen, the same woman hopped
onto the seven eight bus along thefour eight bus route. This time her
plan differed slightly. She got onacted normal. She wrote the bus for
(06:41):
a few stops before pressing the bell, alerting the driver that she wanted to
get off at the next stop.As she approached the front of the bus,
the woman drew her gun, whisperedsomething into the bus driver's ear,
and then shot him twice in thehead. Her second victim was thirty two
year old Freddy Zeratim. As ithas been reported by some sources, although
(07:03):
I cannot confirm how credible they are, that what she whispered into his ear
before she shot him was quote,you guys think you're real bad, don't
you? End quote investigate as wellif baffled by the seemingly motiveless and brutal
crimes. That was until August thirty, twenty thirteen, the office of Lapolka
(07:28):
received a bizarre email from someone callingthemselves Diana the Hunter of bus Drivers.
The website is based in El Paso, but is dedicated to political like gossip
coverage of Warez, and the emailread the following. You think that because
we are women, we are weak, and that may be true, but
(07:50):
only up to a point. Becauseeven though we have nobody to defend us,
and we have to work long hoursuntil late into the night to earn
a living for our families, canno longer be silent in the face of
these acts that enrage us. Wewere victims of sexual violence from bus drivers
working the mcquilla nightshifts here in Wirez, and although a lot of people know
(08:11):
about the things we've suffered, nobodydefends us nor does anything to protect us.
That's why I am an instrument thatwill take revenge for many women.
For we as seen as weak,but in reality we are not. We
are brave, and if we don'tget our respect, we will earn that
(08:33):
respect with our own hands. Wethe women of Wirez, are strong.
Now. I'd like to point outthat in Roman mythology, Diana the Hunter
is the goddess of hunters, thecountryside, the crossroads, and the moon,
(08:54):
and she is also known to bea virgin and a protector of childbirth,
and to summer extent, the protectorof women. It's an interesting choice
for Diana to call us of Diana. It's unknown whether she intentionally choses because
of the mythological collection. Some articlesalso mentioned that there is a replica statue
(09:16):
of Diana the Hunter outside of arestaurant in Warez, where she can be
seen with a bow drawn, readyto fight. So perhaps that's where our
Diana drew her inspiration of a strongwoman ready to act on a very human
instinct of revenge, vengeance and anger. Following the two shootings, the bus
(09:37):
drivers of Wires were terrified and manyof them refused to go back to work
until Diana had been caught. Thereare thirty bus drivers who cover that route
that Diana targeted, and in astatement to CNM, one bus driver said
quote, there's only about fifty percentof us working. We're full of fear
(09:58):
after learning about this person who killedtwo of our colleagues, and nobody has
any clue. End quote. NowI found an interesting article written for This
American Life dot com, and theauthor, Yuri Herrera, explained how they
interviewed a twenty five year old womanwho we simply know as Laura, and
when asked what would you say toher if you knew her her being Diana,
(10:22):
Laura said, quote, I wouldcongratulate her. Yuri explains how they
had tried to speak to many womenof Warez about Diana, but all of
them seemed really hesitant and gave nocommon answers and sort of wanted to sweep
under the rug. However, Lauraseemed different in that respect. She was
(10:46):
much more open to talking about Dianaand the epidemic that women of Warez and
Mexico are currently facing. She alsotold Yuri, quote, I remember when
I was in high school and Iwould hear a lot about it. My
friends would say to me, ifyou're going on the route and no one
is there, take a pen withthe point facing outwards, because you never
(11:07):
know. That's been happening for years, years, and it's the same for
the ladies working in the mcquilla's endquote. Laura also told jury that her
younger sister had been the victim ofa home invasion in the weeks before Diana
struck. Laura told jury in aquote, I told her not to go,
(11:28):
not to expose herself to the police, because they would ask questions and
check her. I think between thepolice they've created sort of a code,
so you basically are putting yourself outthere to suffer one humiliation after the other.
End quote. Mexican authorities are stillno closer to catching Diana. They
(11:48):
have released a sketch, an approximationsketch, but it's yielded little to no
results for their investigation. Diana,the hunter of bus drivers, has left
the bus driver and Wuarez on tenderhooks, wondering if they will be their next
victim. That was this week's episode. I apologize that it's late, and
(12:11):
you know it's taken me a whileto get round to things, but life
is busy. If you like,oh you're here, please give me a
review. You can follow me onsocial media. All the black jazz and
remember friends, stay safe, butmost importantly, stay spooky,
Popular Podcasts
Spooky Podcasts from iHeartRadio
Whether you’re a scaredy-cat or a brave bat, this collection of episodes from iHeartPodcasts will put you in the Halloween spirit. Binge stories, frights, and more that may keep you up at night!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.