Missing persons exist in a state of limbo—neither dead nor alive—until they are found. Since December 11, 2006, more than 61,000 individuals have vanished due to the Mexican drug war. This crisis has left tens of thousands of families with the painful responsibility of searching for their loved ones to provide them with proper burials and closure. Many of those who disappear as a result of the drug war are not reported missing or dead for fear of violent retribution.​The series “Novenario para Los Desaparecidos” (Novenary for the Missing) consists of nine handmade papers, each infused with a rosary used in Novenario prayers. These objects serve as symbolic certificates of death, offering a form of closure to grieving families. The number nine represents the Novenario prayer tradition in Catholicism. A Novenario is a nine-day series of prayers held every evening after Holy Mass. On the fortieth day after the declaration of death, a celebration is conducted to honor the deceased's ascension to Heaven.​This body of work is the only type of closure that many family members will receive for their missing loved ones. For my family, this project serves as our closure for my brother. I hope it can also bring closure to others who are suffering the same loss.​