This undated photo released by Mexico's Attorney General's Office shows alleged Zeta drug cartel leader and founder Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano in an unknown location. Mexico's Navy says fingerprints confirm that cartel leader Lazcano, an army special forces deserter whose brutal paramilitary tactics helped define the devastating six-year war among Mexico's drug gangs and authorities, was killed Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in a firefight with marines in the northern state of Coahuila on the border with the Texas. (AP Photo/Mexico's Attorney General's Office)
This undated photo released by Mexico's Attorney General's Office shows alleged Zeta drug cartel leader and founder Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano in an unknown location. Mexico's Navy says fingerprints confirm that cartel leader Lazcano, an army special forces deserter whose brutal paramilitary tactics helped define the devastating six-year war among Mexico's drug gangs and authorities, was killed Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in a firefight with marines in the northern state of Coahuila on the border with the Texas. (AP Photo/Mexico's Attorney General's Office)
This photo released by Mexico's Navy on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 allegedly shows the body of Zeta drug cartel leader and founder Heriberto Lazcano while in the possession of Mexico's Medical Forensic Service (SEMEFO) in Sabinas, Mexico. Mexico's Navy says fingerprints confirm that cartel leader Lazcano, an army special forces deserter whose brutal paramilitary tactics helped define the devastating six-year war among Mexico's drug gangs and authorities, was killed Sunday in a firefight with marines in the northern state of Coahuila on the border with the Texas. (AP Photo/Mexico Navy)
This photo released by Mexico's Navy on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 allegedly shows the body of Zeta drug cartel leader and founder Heriberto Lazcano while in the possession of Mexico's Medical Forensic Service (SEMEFO) in Sabinas, Mexico. Mexico's Navy says fingerprints confirm that cartel leader Lazcano, an army special forces deserter whose brutal paramilitary tactics helped define the devastating six-year war among Mexico's drug gangs and authorities, was killed Sunday in a firefight with marines in the northern state of Coahuila on the border with the Texas. (AP Photo/Mexico Navy)
FILE - This undated file photo, downloaded from the Mexico's Attorney General's Office most wanted criminals webpage on Nov. 2, 2010, shows alleged Zeta drug cartel leader and founder Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano in an undisclosed location. The Mexican navy says on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, Lazcano has apparently been killed in a firefight with marines in the Mexican northern border state of Coahuila. (AP Photo/Mexico's Attorney General's Office, file)
MEXICO CITY (AP) ? U.S. officials say the U.S. knew that Mexican marines had killed the head of the widely feared Zetas drug cartel before the body was stolen in a pre-dawn raid from a Mexican funeral home.
One official says the U.S. independently verified the identity of Zeta founder and leader Heriberto Lazcano, killed in a shootout Sunday afternoon in a northern Mexican town, before his body was stolen at gunpoint early Monday.
The account throws into question the Mexican navy's insistence that marines left Lazcano's body unguarded because they thought they had killed a common criminal. They only later discovered from finger prints on the body that it was Lazcano, the navy said.
Both U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
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