To the families of the 43 young men who disappeared on September 26 2014 They insisted that their tragedy was Mexico’s tragedy and sparked a movement We dedicate our work on the Ayotzinapa case to them and to Mexico’s disappeared 100 000 souls and counting Acknowledgements Thank you Anayansi Díaz-Cortes for being the best partner and friend imaginable And gratitude to – The National Security Archive with special thanks to Tom Blanton Megan Detura now with EAAF the Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense Claire Dorfman former interns Bea Abbott Olivia Mozdzierz and Shane Sullivan and Rinat Bikineyev Reveal Center for Investigative Reporting for taking this project on Kevin Sullivan David Rodríguez and former intern Bruce Gil extra-enormous-special thanks to our editor Taki Telonidis who is a kind and patient man Conrad Martin and the Stewart R Mott Foundation The Ford Foundation Each and every one of the people we spoke to in the course of our investigation Some of them are featured in the podcast most are not To the mothers fathers sisters brothers and extended family members of the 43 missing students and to the survivors Mexican prosecutors and investigators human rights lawyers and advocates forensic experts relatives of torture victims members of the GIEI Mexican and US journalists and Mexican and US government officials Centro Prodh one of Mexico’s leading human rights organizations and legal representatives along with Guerrero-based group Tlachinollan of the families of the 43 Special thanks to Santiago Aguirre and María Luisa Aguilar our north stars for their guidance and solidarity every step of the way Also Stephanie Brewer now with the Washington Office on Latin America Luis Tapia human rights lawyer now based in Washington and Alejandra Govea Briseño The United Nations and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico OACNUDH Ximena Suarez Juan Méndez y Jan Jarab John Gibler for unparalleled journalism and profound generosity Marcela Turati co-founder of the investigative project A dónde van los desaparecidos exceptional investigative reporter activist colleague friend Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America The attorneys who fought for us Thomas Burke and Sam F Cate-Gumpert of Davis Wright Tremaine Vickie Baranetsky of the Center for Investigative Reporting and David Sobel on behalf of the National Security Archive – for their champion efforts to force the United State government to abide by its obligations under the FOIA Our aiders and abettors David Corn and Welmoed Laanstra Ignacio Decerega Valentina DíazCortes Falko Ernst Katie Hite Edgar James and family Ana Luisa Liguori Elisabeth Malkin and Eduardo García Kate Martin Sonja Perkic Ginger Thompson Christy Thornton Alejandra Xanic von Bertrab The radio and podcast geniuses for their early support ideas and inspiration Monica Campbell Brian Reed Laura Starcheski Lisa Pollak and Brooke Gladstone The artist Jan Nimmo for her beautiful portrait of Benjamin and all her work around the disappeared 43 See more of her art and activism here And to the river that runs through it Tim Emma and Ruby