Mexico City, December 16 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Mexican authorities said on Tuesday they had uncovered at least 19 corpses in an isolated region of the violence plagued state of Guerrero.

Many of the remains were incomplete or mutilated, with some showing signs of being tortured.

“So far there are nine complete bodies, eight half-burned, and the rest a variety of bones,” a law enforcement source told Reuters.

The remains were found dumped in a deep canyon outside the town of Chichihualco, with no signs of burial.  The town lies deep in a mountainous region that has long struggled with organized crime.

Authorities say the bodies could be over a year and a half old, but are not believed to be linked to the high-profile Ayotzinapa case.

The case centered around the disappearance of 43 students near Iguala, Guerrero. Investigators say the students were detained by police before being handed over to a local criminal gang and massacred.
   
In January, Mexico's attorney general declared the case closed, announcing all 43 were confirmed dead and that no further leads were available.

However, families of the victims have railed against the case closure, arguing authorities should further investigate the role of the police and army.

The case brought international media attention to Guerrero's epidemic of violence, which human rights groups say is fanned by the drug trade and police corruption.

Over the past two years, more than 200 people have been reported missing in the north of the state.