Michelle Malkin » An American family’s Cancun horror

An American family’s Cancun horror

By Michelle Malkin • April 2, 2010 09:39 AM

An American family’s Cancun horror
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2010

It’s every parent’s worst spring break nightmare come true: Fun in the sun somehow turned into a south-of-the-border bloodbath for 21-year-old Zeke Rucker. The vacationing Rutgers University grad was discovered alone outside his resort hotel in the wee hours of the morning of March 16, bleeding and unconscious by a swimming pool. His heartbroken and horrified family has questions. American and Mexican officials don’t have any answers – or any immediate interest in finding out what happened to Zeke.

Did he fall? Was he beaten? Did hotel staff witness anything? A resort security guard found Rucker at around 3 a.m. near some lounge chairs with his head “bashed in.” According to family members, the hotel has interior surveillance video showing Rucker “staggering” from his room. But there is no exterior video to shed light on what happened once he exited the hotel or when and how exactly he sustained his grave head injuries. His wallet and ID were left intact inside his hotel room.

Zucker’s New Jersey-based parents strongly suspect foul play and random violence. But the American consulate told the family there will be no investigation and Zeke’s parents say the Mexican police didn’t even bother to meet with them.

Mexican consulates on American soil are famous for vigorously intervening on behalf of their illegal alien citizens — lobbying to get them driver’s licenses, bank accounts, and healthcare, for example, and rushing to defend illegal alien border-crossers arrested in reckless and drunk-driving cases and sweeps.

Where are our U.S. lawmakers to put pressure on our U.S. State Department to get to the bottom of the Ruckers’ Cancun horror?

For now, the family is focused on nursing Zeke back to health. He remains in a coma under heavy sedation after undergoing emergency surgery in Mexico to remove a hematoma in his brain. During that surgery, he suffered an infection that has left him with a raging fever and complications. Zeke was flown to Miami’s Ryder Trauma Center/Jackson Memorial for top-notch care. But not without difficulty.

Zeke’s aunt, Jodi, related the Ruckers’ hellish experience transporting her nephew out of the violence-wracked country: “The air ambulance team is made up of ex-military men who have done evacuations out of many countries. They say that Cancun is one of the most difficult places to get out of. The air ambulance team when landed in Mexico was surrounded by military with guns drawn that then searched the plane.” The Ruckers hired a “handler” who “basically gives the Mexicans American cash for their plane to land and take off safely. It’s called ‘greasing the monkey.’ [Zeke’s father] was getting anxious because of the amount of guns/men surrounding the plane and the pilot told him not to worry because ‘they greased this monkey (plane) good.’ They were allowed to take off about an hour later. Corruption is abundant there.”

Adding to the emotional strain and bureaucratic headaches: The Mexican hospital that treated Zeke demanded up front payment for all of the costs related to his care, surgery, and stay before allowing him to leave. Can you imagine the international uproar if a U.S. hospital demanded the same of Mexican citizens in their care? The Ruckers’ insurer here in the States was able to change the terminology of Zeke’s airlift from “transport” to “evacuation” in order to cover those costs.

Thanks to the kindness of strangers and help from Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Ruckers have received assistance for their hotel lodging while Zeke gets treatment. Their friends and neighbors are holding a benefit fund-raiser on April 14 at Randazzo’s Pizza in Sewell, NJ to assist with costs. And well-wishers can leave comments and tributes on their CaringBridge page here.

Amid myriad cases of unsolved border violence cases over the past month – the cold-blooded murder of Arizona rancher Robert Krentz, the assassination of an American consulate worker and her federal security officer husband in Juarez, and on and on – the case of Zeke Rucker has a special, chilling resonance with every parent of a teen or twenty-something.

This could have been your child.

What would you do if no one would answer your questions? Apathy is not an option.

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Posted in: Immigration

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#101

On April 3rd, 2010 at 9:28 am, Savage24 said:

I’ve lived about 50 miles from the Mexico border for over 30 years and you couldn’t pay me to go there. It has always been bad, but with the drug situation it is terrible. Murder and mayhem is the word of the day down there. Our politicians need one more lesson from them and they will be just as corrupt.
#102

On April 3rd, 2010 at 11:11 am, Turbodog said:

Mexico is a dump. I have no plans to ever go back. Once in 98 was enough.
#103

On April 3rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm, Bhishma said:

In the mean time, justice department is busy: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/02/1559475/asylum-approval-for-mexicans-up.html
#104

On April 3rd, 2010 at 4:01 pm, bluesoc said:

On April 3rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm, Bhishma said:
In the mean time, justice department is busy: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/02/1559475/asylum-approval-for-mexicans-up.html

How dare we provide refuge for people who would otherwise be murdered. Have you no common decency?
#105

On April 3rd, 2010 at 4:08 pm, rfjjulie said:

On April 3rd, 2010 at 4:01 pm, bluesoc said:

You forgot the /sarc tag. How we dare not protect ourselves?

STOP THE BULLSH!T
#106

On April 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 pm, xler8bmw said:

All the best prayers to his family. I will never and have never gone to that S*** hole again I went to Acapulco once and never went back to Mexico again!!!

We need to cut these people off immediately!
#107

On April 3rd, 2010 at 5:54 pm, Send_Me said:

Note to self: If I’m not willing to go on vacation to Mexico, then I probably shouldn’t allow my children to go to Mexico.
#108

On April 3rd, 2010 at 6:25 pm, apacherat said:

Zeke left his wallet in his hotel room !!!
Bad mistake. When Mexican cops shake down American tourist and the American doesn’t have his wallet or her purse on them, Mexican cops routinely beat the crap out of the Americans.
#109

On April 3rd, 2010 at 9:09 pm, rightisright said:

waiting for Leslie Gramnesty and McAmnesty to move to that $hit hole mexico, that paradise of their dreams…lieing bastards.

Been there 3 times 30 years ago, from Acapulco to Mazatlan, to the trash heap of Tijuania, didn’t leave a thing in any of them, no need to ever go back…it’s a pukie, back ass country. If these invaders spent as much time to revolt as they do stealing hand outs in America they may have a better country now than what they have, but wait, they can always come to America and live off hard working American citizens. Everyone of these politicians that lie with that BS we get more benefits from the mexicans than the mexicans do from us are a bunch of dumb-ass lieing bastards, each and everyone of them…TRAITORS.
#110

On April 3rd, 2010 at 11:53 pm, pakurilecz said:

I notice that the young man’s insurance company covered his ‘evacuation’ what will happen when Obamacare is fully implemented. will families such as this one have to work through their congressman to get action
#111

On April 4th, 2010 at 10:29 am, graysonret said:

Many people, in this country, have no idea what life is like in other countries…their laws, customs, and culture. They assume the world is like the U.S.. The shock can be devastating. I remember flying in to Singapore, on the way to Malaysia, and having to sign a statement that any drugs found on me, could result in the death penalty and the Embassy couldn’t help me. Some areas in Asia, have open sewers in the streets (watch your step). Others are Islamic…watch your mouth. Britain is the same. What is free speech here, could be considered “hate speech” there. Know the rules. Drugexico is not on my list to visit anytime soon; that and any Central America country. In most countries, even Europe, drink bottled water, to be safe. In Europe, I learned to buy products with prices attached, or posted. Gouging Americans is a sport there.
#112

On April 7th, 2010 at 11:44 am, iowavette said:

My husband and I have been traveling to Cozumel for the better part of 20 years, sometimes twice a year. We love the diving and the atmosphere. The big chains have moved in along with the cruise ships but there remains plenty of local culture. Crime is nonexistent and the one instance my husband witnessed resulted in pain and humiliation to the perp by nearby residents. The islanders rely on the tourists and brook no nonsense.
Nonetheless, I sent an email to the Mexican consulate in DC.

Similar to the economic aftermath in Aruba, they can kiss my red, white and blue ass before they’ll see me in Mexico again.
#113

On April 7th, 2010 at 2:46 pm, happy2behere said:

I’m sorry for that family, but one has to note, there was and maybe still is, a travel advisory for Americans south of the border. Why would a parent send their college age kid anywhere there is an advisory?