A closer look at Michoacán's vigilantes

Members of the Autodefensas of Santa Maria Ostula. (Jan-Albert Hootsen)

A member of the Autodefensas of Santa Maria Ostula. (Jan-Albert Hootsen)

Members of the Autodefensas of Santa Maria Ostula standing guard at a papaya field. (Jan-Albert Hootsen)

A member of the Autodefensas of Santa Maria Ostula. (Jan-Albert Hootsen)

Germán 'El Toro' ('The Bull') Ramírez, second-in-command of Santa Maria Ostula's Autodefensas, who has been chosen to replace Semeí Verdia. (Jan-Albert Hootsen)

The charred remains of truck burned at the bridge where the army clashed with civilians from Santa Maria Ostula. (Jan-Albert Hootsen)