Fugitive Mexican mayor, wife arrested in disappearance of 43 students

By RYAN GORMAN

A Mexican mayor and his wife have been arrested for their believed involvement in the disappearance of dozens of school children in Mexico.

Iguala, Mexico, Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda were on the run since September until being arrested Tuesday in Mexico City, authorities said.

Abarca and his wife were wanted in connection with the abduction of 43 college students. Their arrest was announced early Tuesday morning on Twitter by Mexican Federal Police.

The pair was found hiding in a rented home in Mexico City and was taken into custody without incident, sources told Mexican newspaper El Universal.

The 43 students, mostly in their 20s, vanished after boarding a bus to Iguala for a protest, according to reports.

Officials have previously stated they believe Abarca ordered police to confront the group after learning of its plans to disrupt one of his events.

An arrest warrant was issued last month for Abarca and his wife.

They have not been seen or heard from since.

Investigators learned through interrogation of other local officials and even gang members that the missing students were given to a local gang after as many as six of them were shot dead by officers, according to El Universal.

More than 60 suspects have so far been arrested.

Citizens have since taken to the streets with regular protests over the students' disappearance and authorities' inability to find them.

The governor of Guerrero state, where Iguala is located, has since resigned.

The missing persons were studying to become schoolteachers.

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