Bueckert, Catherine (1949-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Nov 30 p. 1

Birth date: 1949

text of obituary:

Tragedy Wipes Out Family of Five In Mexico Colony

Cuauhtemoc, Chih., Mexico. — Tragedy recently wiped out a family of five in the large Mennonite settlement north of here.

A Mexican ranch hand has reportedly confessed to the murder of all five members of the Peter Beckert family on the ranch where they were working in the vicinity of Rosario. Robbery was an apparent motive for the crime.

After a two-day search, Mexican police arrested Inanseio Lopez Reijes, who admitted the slaying.

According to a published statement, Reijes went to the Beckert home where he found Catherine, 12, alone preparing a meal. He stabbed her to death, then ransacked the house, finding only seven or eight dollars.

He then went to the field where the rest of the family was working and shot Beckert as he was cutting oats on the binder. Cornelius, 20, was shot as he attempted to flee.

Reijes, according to the confession, placed the bodies of the two victims on the binder and drove to another part of the field where Mrs. Beckert and Anna, 17, were working. Using knife and rifle, he killed them also.

The bodies of all five were discovered the next day by a neighbor.

Nearest surviving relative is a son, Peter Beckert, Jr., and wife of Steinbach, Man.