Kidnapped in Mexico: 2 Dead, 2 Alive | Latest News

Four US citizens were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico on March 3 while driving into Matamoros in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas. The Americans had traveled there for cosmetic surgery. Two of the kidnapped Americans were found dead and two were alive and have now been delivered to the US. Mexican officials confirmed the deaths, while a Mexican woman who was believed to be a bystander was also killed during the incident. The FBI has launched an investigation, and the US government has offered its condolences to the families of those who were killed. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has also expressed his sympathies and vowed to continue working towards guaranteeing peace and tranquillity.

Kidnapped in Mexico: 2 Dead, 2 Alive | Latest News.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador described the kidnapping incident as a confrontation between armed groups. The Americans may have been mistaken for Haitian drug smugglers by a Mexican drug cartel, according to an unnamed US official. Latavia McGee was reportedly traveling to Matamoros to have a tummy tuck. Matamoros is known for its dangers as drug cartels control large parts of the state of Tamaulipas. Despite this, medical tourism is still common, especially among people in US border states.

Ambassador Salazar's Statement on Matamoros Kidnapping

"We prioritize the safety of our citizens. US law enforcement officials are working with Mexican authorities to secure the safe return of our compatriots. The FBI is offering a reward for any information. Check State Department Travel Advisories before considering travel to Mexico."

Full Story

Two of the four Americans abducted in northern Mexico were found dead, while the other two were found alive and returned to the US. The Tamaulipas state prosecutor confirmed the news and said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend those responsibly. The survivors identified themselves as Latavia McGee and Eric James Williams. The Americans were traveling from Texas to Matamoros in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates when they were attacked and kidnapped by unknown gunmen, who also killed a Mexican woman. A video shared on social media shows the gunmen escorting one of the hostages to a white pickup truck and dragging two more across the street and throwing them into the truck.

The FBI offered a $50,000 reward "for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved" in the kidnapping of four Americans in Mexico. Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, stated that the Americans were seeking medicine, but later reports suggest that one of them was accompanying a friend who was getting a tummy tuck. The incident has drawn attention to the violence in Mexico, with over 35,000 people killed in the country in 2021 alone. Tamaulipas, the northern state where the kidnapping took place, is known for being violent due to conflict between rival factions of the Gulf cartel. The incident follows the killing of five young men in Nuevo Laredo by Mexican soldiers.

In October of last year, the US State Department issued a travel warning for Tamaulipas, advising citizens not to travel to the state due to the prevalence of organized crime activities such as murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and extortion, among others.

While violence against Americans in Mexico is not common, there have been several brutal killings in recent months, such as a California lawyer who was murdered during a vacation with his wife in northern Mexico in January. An autopsy revealed that he had dozens of skull fractures.

The recent kidnapping incident in Matamoros garnered significant attention in the US, including from the White House. "These types of attacks are unacceptable," stated press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a news conference on Monday. "Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals."

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