Kidnapped by the Cartel. Hunted by 25 Men. Stripped of Everything. Still in Hiding. My name is Derek Broes, known online as @WillingWitness. I’m a builder, truth-teller, and fighter. But right now, I’m fighting for my life. I was kidnapped by the cartel, hunted by 25 armed men, including individuals wearing fake police uniforms, and robbed of every possession I owned. They are still pursuing me. And I need your help to escape, survive, and rebuild. ⸻ It Started With a Deal. It Turned Into a Death Sentence. I delivered over $46,000 worth of AI and Web3 automation systems for Edrick Villagrán, a dentist in Los Algodones, Mexico. But Edrick isn’t just a dentist. He and his family run a multi-business cartel front—posing as merchants, dentists, and business owners, while operating a violent criminal enterprise beneath the surface. When I asked to be paid, they refused. When I offered to settle for just $4,700—my hard costs—they still refused. Instead, they sent men with guns. ⸻ 25 Armed Men. Fake Police. Three Nights of Terror. After the first shooting incident (which was caught on video and posted on my Twitter: @WillingWitness), they escalated. They sent a 25-man hit squad. Some wore police uniforms, but they weren’t real cops. Down here, many “police” in smaller towns are just hired private security—thugs with badges, loyal to whoever pays them. We were under siege for three straight nights, hiding in our condo, setting up booby traps, taking shifts to sleep. It was pure survival. Then they got me. ⸻ I Was Kidnapped by Cartel Men and Dumped in the Desert They took me. Drove me 90 minutes into cartel territory, dumped me in a field, and left me to disappear. But I escaped. When I returned, everything was gone: • My car (later bought back—but now undriveable) • Laptops, phones, hard drives, tech—gone • All my partner’s possessions, even a roommate’s stored items—gone • I was left with just a T-shirt, shorts, flip-flops, and a hat ⸻ We Escaped the City—but We’re Still Not Safe We got out of Los Algodones. But we’re still within reach. They are looking for me. They know I spoke up. They saw the video. They heard the podcast. And they’re pissed. If they find out where I am—we’re dead. We’ve already picked a secure relocation spot. But we need your help to get there—fast. ⸻ Here’s What I’m Asking For ✅ A reliable vehicle to escape ✅ Rent for a secure, undisclosed location ✅ Replacement gear so I can work again ✅ Emergency living supplies to survive Once safe, I can finish launching the Web3 projects I’ve spent years building—tools that will create real impact and allow me to never ask for help like this again. ⸻ This Isn’t Just About Me The Villagrán family isn’t one man. They operate a network of cartel-linked businesses across Los Algodones. They wear smiles in daylight—and send killers by night. They’re protected. They’re powerful. And they’re afraid of exposure. I survived. I’m speaking out. And now I need your help to live long enough to finish this mission. ⸻ Here’s What You Can Do Donate anything you can—$5, $20, it all helps Share this page—on social, in DMs, in conversations Watch the shooting video on Twitter Listen to the podcast (linked below) See the faces behind the threats—photos of Edrick are attached ⸻ This isn’t drama. This isn’t exaggeration. This is real-time survival against cartel violence. Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for helping me escape. Thank you for helping me rebuild. —Derek Broes @WillingWitness