Three years later, the bloodshed is even worse here.

Cartels are battling for territory and reports of grisly killings are common, such as the gun massacre last week of three young boys, a teenager and five others who were playing video games at an arcade in what had been a relatively quiet neighborhood.

"You constantly hear that there are a lot of dead here in Uruapan," said Uvilla, a 20-year-old stay-at-home mom, adding that she doesn't know what to do anymore other than be extra cautious with her 1-year-old son. "And you don't live at ease, because now when you go out, you do so with fear."