Miriam Elizabeth Rodríguez Martínez was a mother driven by heartbreak and unyielding courage. When her daughter, Karen Alejandra Salinas Rodríguez, was abducted and murdered by the ruthless Los Zeta drug cartel in 2012, Miriam embarked on a dangerous and relentless quest for justice — a real-life journey echoing the intensity of the film Taken.
From her home in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Miriam became one of Mexico’s most fearless advocates for missing children, refusing to let her daughter’s tragedy go unanswered. Over years of tireless investigation and risking her own life, she helped bring at least ten cartel members to justice.
Karen’s nightmare began on January 23, 2012, when armed men violently seized her from her car in northeastern Mexico. Though her kidnappers demanded a hefty ransom, and her family paid it in desperate hope, Karen was brutally killed. Her lifeless body was found two years later on an isolated ranch — a heartbreaking end that only fueled Miriam’s fight.
Tragically, Miriam’s pursuit of justice came at the highest cost. In 2017, she was gunned down in front of her own home — a testament to the deadly stakes she faced in confronting the cartel’s terror.
Since the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Miriam took justice into her own hands, embarking on a perilous mission that spanned across borders — from Mexico all the way into the United States, including Texas.
Disguised and armed with nothing more than a fake gun and forged IDs, she infiltrated the dangerous world of the Los Zetas cartel, one of the country’s deadliest criminal organizations. Using her wits and sheer determination, Miriam tracked down and confronted numerous cartel members herself.
The New York Times recounts one striking episode: Miriam spent an entire year following a young florist online after learning he once sold flowers on the street before joining the cartel. Armed with this intel, she found him among street vendors near the US-Mexico border, selling sunglasses.
When he spotted her, he tried to flee — but the 56-year-old mother gave chase, tackling him to the ground. Holding a gun to his head, she warned fiercely, “If you move, I’ll shoot you.” She held him captive for an hour until police arrived to arrest him.
Her relentless pursuit led to the capture of at least ten cartel members — a feat few law enforcement officers could match.
Among those arrested was Cristian Jose Zapata Gonzalez, just 18 years old at the time. During her investigations, one cartel member assured her they didn’t have Karen but still demanded $2,000 to help find her.
As she pleaded for her daughter’s release, she overheard the name “Sama” over the radio. Driven by this clue, Miriam scoured social media for hours until she found a photo of Sama standing beside a woman wearing an ice cream shop uniform — a shop located in Ciudad Victoria, two hours away.
Carefully studying the woman’s daily routine, Miriam shadowed the ice cream shop for weeks, patiently waiting for Sama to appear. When he finally showed up, she followed him discreetly, memorizing the couple’s address.
To avoid detection during a fake neighborhood survey, Miriam dyed her hair red and donned her old Health Ministry uniform, blending in as if she belonged.
Despite her efforts — including recruiting a sympathetic police officer — Sama slipped out of town before authorities could arrest him.
But fate intervened in September 2014 when Miriam’s son Luis, who owned a store in Ciudad Victoria, spotted Sama browsing through his hats.
When police finally caught Sama, he confessed to his role in Karen’s murder and revealed details about his accomplices.
Yet, Miriam’s relentless quest for justice came with a terrible cost.
On Mother’s Day, 2017, she was gunned down — shot twelve times right outside her own home. Her husband found her lifeless body on the sidewalk, her handbag and gun still nearby.
In a city where gang violence often goes unpunished, Miriam’s courage made her a revered figure — a beacon of defiance against terror.
The police officer who assisted her later said the files from Miriam’s investigation were unlike anything he had ever seen, a testament to her extraordinary resolve and bravery.
Miriam’s son Luis (pictured) spotted Sama browsing hats at his store in Ciudad Victoria — a crucial break in the case.
An officer who worked closely with Miriam, but wished to remain anonymous, told The New York Times:
“The details and information gathered by this woman, working all alone, were incredible. She had gone to every single level of government, and they had slammed the door in her face.”
“To help her hunt down the people who took her daughter — it was the greatest privilege of my career,” he added.
Much like Liam Neeson’s character in Taken, who relentlessly pursues his kidnapped daughter across France, Miriam refused to back down in a region where organized crime often goes unchallenged.
Today, Miriam’s surviving son Luis leads the independent group of 600 families she founded — a powerful network united in the search for their missing loved ones.
Watch the video below: