San Pedro Sula , Honduras ( CNN ) -- At the morgue in San Pedro Sula , the second largest city in Honduras , a grim new tally greets Dr. Hector Hernandez every morning . On Monday , the number was four . On Tuesday , five . Some are riddled with bullets ; in one case 72 bullet wounds . Others are bound by their hands and feet and strangled . The ceaseless river of bodies flowing through the morgue in San Pedro Sula is a sobering testament to one reason so many people leave Central America to risk it all on a long , perilous journey to the United States . In a country with rampant crime and little economic opportunity , even the prospect of a dangerous journey is overshadowed by the potential reward of a new life north of the border . Hernandez , the city 's director of forensic medicine , needs no reminder . One of the most troubling cases for him came in a week ago : a 13-year-old girl with her throat slit ear to ear . Her body was found in a shallow grave in a backyard . The circumstances of her death are still under investigation . Each body brought in tells of brutality and violence , of the city 's devastating gang activity . Fueled by the drug trade , rival gangs duel here for recruits , territory and cash . From January to June of this year , the city experienced 538 homicides . A gun was used in 423 deaths . It 's these tragic figures that have led to the city being dubbed `` the murder capital of the world . '' The saddest room . The small room where families learn of their loved ones ' fate has a crucifix , auditorium-style seats and a wall filled with pictures of the city 's missing . Sisters Albertina Eriquez and Suyapa Arguete sit in two of those seats . Their eyes are red and swollen with tears . A terrible call came over the weekend . Eriquez 's son and Arguete 's nephew , Jorge Villalobo , 24 , was found dead . His wife and three children , ages 12 , 6 and 2 , were on a Disney vacation in the United States , and Villalobo was to join them soon . A gunman or gunmen had another idea . Villalobo 's body was one of the four brought in Monday . Hernandez suspects Villalobo , a businessman who family members say fought extortion from the gangs , was robbed and died from gunshot wounds . The gangs are watching . Hernandez does n't take chances with his own security . When he was promoted to his current position about a year ago , he was given two full-time bodyguards . His family left the city for their own protection . In fact , Hernandez says the mere act of claiming a body or attending a funeral can make people here a target for gang members who stalk the morgue and cemetery looking for their next mark . Forty-eight bodies are unclaimed at the morgue . After 30 days , they 'll be buried in the city 's public cemetery . DNA , dental records and fingerprints are retained for the day when a loved one shows up or a killer is caught . Leave or die . Hernandez says he believes the situation is getting a bit better . In May , the worst month , the body tally hovered around nine per day , he said . Yet the fear pulsating through San Pedro Sula remains . Villalobo 's aunt says that people in the roughest neighborhoods leave Honduras because they `` do n't have another option . '' Hernandez says he believes many families have n't claimed their loved ones ' bodies because they believe their family members have migrated . One day , they may learn the awful truth in one of the saddest places in San Pedro Sula . First group of Hondurans deported from new U.S. facility . Honduran police : Man killed 4 siblings with machete . CNNE 's Ana Melgar contributed to this report . Watch Anderson Cooper . 360° weeknights 8pm ET . For the latest from AC360° click here .
Honduran city has been dubbed `` the murder capital of the world '' Fueled by the drug trade , rival gangs duel in San Pedro Sula for recruits , territory and cash . From January to June of this year , the city had 538 homicides . Even the city 's director of forensic medicine was given two full-time bodyguards .