Podcast Summary — Penitencia Ep. 177

Title: A los 9 años me secuestraron y me entrenaron para matar | Beto
Date: February 24, 2026
Hosts: Alex Reider, Saskia Niño de Rivera, Sebastián Arrechedera
Guest: Beto (Alberto)

Overview

This episode of Penitencia dives deep into Beto’s harrowing life story, tracing his path from abandonment at birth through an abusive childhood, homelessness, being kidnapped and trained for violence at age 9, and ultimately becoming a tool for criminal and political interests. Now incarcerated and reflecting, Beto shares with stark honesty and without seeking absolution or pity, laying bare the systemic failures and layers of violence that shaped his destiny. The conversation is raw, uncomfortable, and meant to provoke reflection about violence, complicity, and human dignity in the context of Mexico’s social realities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Abandonment and Early Childhood Trauma

• Abandoned as a newborn: Beto’s mother left him at a children’s home in Tlalpan at a few days old.
  • “La roca que me tuvo en su vientre me tiró ahí en Tlalpan como 15 días de nacido.” (04:25)
• Adoption into further abuse: At age 5, he’s adopted by a couple who subject him to severe physical and sexual abuse.
  • He is chained and treated worse than a pet; attempts to report the sexual abuse go ignored.
  • “Mi madre me encadenaba. Me picó. [...] Nunca me creyó. [...] De que me cogía el güey ese.” (05:00–06:13)

2. Life on the Streets: Newfound Family, Survival, and Early Socialization into Crime

• Escape to the streets at age 6: After a year of abuse, he escapes and survives with other homeless individuals.
  • “Me salí a la calle. [...] Somos perros de la calle, ¿No?” (06:33–07:12)
• Learning from street elders: He forms connections, learns to read and count, adopts survival skills, and begins criminal activity, like snatching purses.
  • “Me enseñaron a leer, me enseñaron a hacer cuenta. Me enseñaron que el dinero es para dos cosas, para desmadrarte y para disfrutar.” (08:32–09:14)

3. Kidnapping and ‘Training’ at Age 9

• Abducted and trained for violence: At 9, Beto and others are abducted, held for over a year, and subjected to physical/mental conditioning for use as child operatives.
  • “Nos secuestran una perrera como a diez culeros [...] ahí me tienen un año, tres meses [...] dañándote tu mente, diciéndote que tú eres una mierda.” (09:49–10:19)
• Witnessing and surviving brutality: Children who can’t keep up are killed; bodies disposed of without consequence.
  • “Después de un cierto tiempo, mi noviecita no aguantó el ejercicio y la mataron. Todos los valecitos que no aguantaban los mataba.” (11:15–11:23)

4. Exploitation by State and Criminal Actors

• Assigned to powerful protectors: After ‘training’, Beto is used by a political figure (“Rogelio de la Cámara de Diputados”) for violent and criminal acts, including abduction, murder, and rituals.
  • “Después de ese entrenamiento [...] empecé a hacer puras pendejadas [...] porque era mi vida.” (12:49–13:26)
• Describes a world of ritualistic violence and complicity:
  • “Muchos de ellos no, todos no, pero la mayoría de ellos sí. Son satánicos. Les gusta hacer rituales. Yo me iba a Veracruz con los niños y ahí hacían sus sacrificios.” (13:56–14:31)
• Violence as currency: Beto is paid for abductions and murders, especially of other children, seeing his own trauma reflected in his victims.
  • “Me pagaron por robar [...] Llevarlos a diferentes estados. Hace sacrificios, cultos.” (17:46–17:53)

5. Psychological Impact and Reflections on Agency

• Loss of innocence, normalization of violence: Beto recounts killing his abuser at 10, admitting it brought satisfaction, not repair.
  • “En esos momentos la estaba gozando. [...] Me gustó la sangre y empecé a hacer pendejadas.” (16:05–17:18)
• Acknowledgement of trauma and lack of remorse:
  • “No me arrepiento, no me arrepiento. [...] Lo que sí me arrepiento es haberme salido de la coladera. Lo que sí me arrepiento es de haber perdido esa niña.” (31:19–32:32)

6. Attitudes Toward Fate, Regret, and Identity

• Resignation and fatalism: Considers his path determined by circumstances and believes everyone “pays” in the end.
  • “El destino ya está escrito y tu historia ya fue contada. Pues nada más vívela, nada más disfrútala.” (47:38)
• No expectation or desire for freedom: After 18 years in prison, 72-year sentence, no family or hope, Beto feels released from the outside world’s values.
  • “No me interesa salir. [...] Yo ya entendí que desde que empezó el tiempo cero que de nací hasta ahorita que tengo 36 años, es así solo.” (44:01–44:25)

7. Reflection on Meaning and Longing

• Desire for an ordinary life: Beto reflects on lost dreams, highlighting the arbitrary cruelty of his beginnings.
  • “Yo siempre quise ser piloto aviador, siempre volar. [...] A mí si me hubieran ofrecido un plato de sopa, a lo mejor no estuviera aquí.” (45:43–46:16)
• Family and mother: Profound bitterness toward his mother; cyclical feelings about compassion and cruelty.
  • “La odio muchísimo, ¿Verdad? [...] Aunque la culera no haya tenido para comer, darme de tragar, ahora te puedo decir que aunque comiendo frijoles hubiéramos sobrevivido.” (37:53–37:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On abandonment:
  • “La roca que me tuvo en su vientre me tiró ahí en Tlalpan como 15 días de nacido.” — Beto (04:25)
• On street survival:
  • “Somos perros de la calle, ¿No?” — Beto (07:12)
• On ‘training’ after kidnapping:
  • “Nos empiezan a decir que para pronto estamos a sus huevos de esos huevos y si no hacemos nada, pues nos iban a matar.” — Beto (10:19)
• On complicity and being weaponized:
  • “Ese fulano era mi dueño, que yo tenía que hacer todo lo que él me dijera.” — Beto (12:49)
• On the psychological impact of abuse:
  • “Yo hacía mis trabajos, me mandaban con mi equipo y yo hacía mi trabajo. Yo solo. [...] Nunca he compartido con amigos [...] siempre he estado solo.” — Beto (16:29–16:34)
• On fate and reflection:
  • “El destino ya está escrito y tu historia ya fue contada. Pues nada más vívela, nada más disfrútala.” — Beto (47:38)

Important Timestamps

• Abandonment & Adoption: 04:25–06:13
• Life on the Street: 06:33–09:14
• Kidnapping & ‘Training’: 09:49–11:23
• Working for politicians, ritual abuse: 12:49–14:31
• First murder (revenge on abuser): 14:33–16:09
• Reflection on killing and trauma: 16:10–18:20
• On removing children for sacrifices: 17:46–18:22
• Street family, learning from others: 23:35–24:49
• Getting caught, prison system: 38:42–44:01
• On remorse and meaning: 44:05–46:19
• Dreams of normalcy: 45:43–46:16
• Fatalism about fate: 47:38–48:02

Tone and Style

The conversation is direct, raw, and unfiltered—often using colloquial language, dark humor, and blunt admissions. Beto speaks without seeking forgiveness and often circles back to fatalism and the inevitability of his life story, challenging listeners to question easy notions of guilt and redemption.

Takeaway

This is a distressing yet crucial episode for understanding the long shadow of violence, systemic abandonment, and exploitation within Mexico’s social and institutional structures. Beto’s story underscores the urgent need to address root causes—neglect, abuse, and the collusion between crime and authority—while reminding listeners that behind each statistic is a complex, often irredeemably wounded human being.

If you have not listened to the episode, this summary preserves the powerful trajectory and key moments of Beto's testimony while inviting reflection without sensationalism.