Teenage Cartel Hitmen: Child Soldiers on our Shores

The issue and problem of child soldiers is not limited to West Africa in the notorious Sierra Leone civil war, or the well publicized Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony.

As profiled on CNN.com by Ed Lavaneria recently (Mr. Lavanderia’s quotes in italics), two boys from the US side of the border became cold-blooded cartel killers. One seemingly joined the gangster’s life with as much intention as a teenage boy can. The other was seemingly drafted by the notorious head of the Zetas cartel and committed dozens of murders before one was caught and the other turned himself in.

Cardona and Reta say they were paid thousands of dollars a week just to be available -- ready at all times to answer the call to kill.  When orders from cartel leaders came, the men would begin hunting their prey.

The money and lifestyle were so seductive and intoxicating that both teenagers dropped out of school and started living the high-rolling, lavish lifestyle. Reta dropped out sixth grade; Cardona left school in ninth grade.

Cardona and Reta didn't last long in that world. They each say they lived the life for about three years, Cardona from age 16 to 19; Reta, from age 13 to 16.

Cardona was arrested and pleaded guilty to killing seven men and to conspiracy to kidnap and kill in a foreign country. He was sentenced to more than 80 years in prison.

Reta said he began to fear that rival cartel members were getting close to killing him as retribution, so while working on an assignment in Monterrey, Mexico, he called a contact at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and surrendered.

Missing from the CNN article is any discussion of the psychology of child killers or child killers, and why those who want to commit atrocities use children so often. (See Psychology Today Article)

They lack the moral compass and ability to discern consequences that adults do; reasons that juvenile law exists and that the Supreme Court won’t permit minors to be executed. For those who are victimized by the children killers, none of that matters. For those who recruit them, it is what matters most.