South
American kidnapped in Mexico, left to die in jungle with eyes, wrists taped
A New York man living in Mexico is lucky to be alive after several men abducted him and held him for a $200,000 ransom.
The kidnappers taped Joseph Constantine Buonincontri’s eyes shut and bound him by his wrists and ankles, and left him deep in a jungle in Limones, Mexico, a remote area about 200 miles southwest of Cancun.
Locals tipped off the police about armed men driving a taxi from Tulum, a popular resort area, into the secluded wilderness, which sparked a rescue mission by the Mexican military and the Mexican National Guard.
The 35-year-old New Yorker was alive, but tied up in a straw hut, according to the Quintana Roo Attorney General’s Office, which said authorities recovered a backpack with marijuana, a tactical vest and loaded magazines for an AR-15.
MEXICAN KIDNAPPERS TARGETING AMERICAN TOURISTS HAVE ‘NO CODE’ CURBING RUTHLESSNESS: EXPERT
Joseph Constantine Buonincontri, 35, was abducted by unknown men and left in the Mexican jungle with eyes taped, according to a prosecutor in Mexico. (Mexican Army)
The kidnappers have not been identified or caught since Buonincontri was found on Feb. 4 and was unharmed, according to local Mexican news outlets and the prosecutor’s office.
A 1.5-minute video of the rescue published on borderlandbeat.com showed the moment authorities found Buonincontri. The website translated the conversation.
A soldier asked twice if he was OK and if he was hungry or thirsty.
MEXICAN AUTHORITIES ARREST 6 IN CONNECTION WITH GRISLY MACHETE MURDERS IN CANCUN
Buonincontri reportedly responded by asking for a cigarette and to take the tape off his eyes.
“We’ve already called the authorities. Agents from the Public Prosecutors Office and the Attorney General’s Office are going to arrive and remove that blindfold from your eyes,” the soldier reportedly said, according to the translation by borderlandbeat.com.
“But are you OK? We’re soldiers from the Mexican Army. We belong to the 7th Motorized Cavalry Regiment. And we’ve come here to give you aid.”
The Mexican Army and Mexican National Guard, along with local police and investigators from the prosecutor’s office, rescued Joseph Constantine Buonincontri from a remote Mexican jungle after he was abducted. (Mexican Army)
During the conversation, Buonincontri reportedly told the soldiers that he was from New York and visiting a family member in Limones.
The soldier asked him if he remembered what happened and when he was kidnapped.
“No, I can’t recall the day,” Buonincontri reportedly said, according to borderlandnews.com’s translation. “I don’t even know what day this is.”
CALIFORNIA WOMAN SHOT DEAD IN MEXICAN RESORT TOWN POPULAR WITH AMERICANS
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
That was where the video ends.
The Fiscalía General del Estado de Quintana Roo, the local prosecutor’s office, released a statement on X saying he was found alive and thanked the Mexican Army, National Guard and local police.
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 12 a.m. for parts of eastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa.
Counties included in the watch:
- Adair
- Cherokee
- Craig
- Creek
- Delaware
- Mayes
- Nowata
- Osage
- Rogers
- Tulsa
- Wagoner
- Washington
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
SIGN UP FOR THE CHANNEL 8 NEWSLETTER
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 26, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from April 26 drawing
Evening: 4-7-5, FB: 9
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from April 26 drawing
Evening: 5-1-8-6, FB: 9
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 26 drawing
Evening: 01
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from April 26 drawing
03-04-13-18-37
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
TURTLETOWN, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee man died Sunday after he fell from a raft while paddling on the Ocoee River in Polk County, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The TWRA said game wardens and Tennessee State Park Rangers responded to just south of Ocoee Dam No. 2 for reports of an unconscious man on the Ocoee River.
Witnesses told officials that 50-year-old Richard White, of Cleveland, fell from a raft while paddling on the river. Bystanders pulled him from the water and performed CPR until emergency services arrived.
The TWRA said White was taken to Bradley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
White was wearing protective equipment, including a helmet and a personal floatation device, the TWRA said.
The investigation is ongoing.
This incident marks the sixth boating-related fatality this year, the TWRA said. This is the first death this year in which the victim was wearing a life jacket.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
-
Ohio5 minutes agoNortheast Ohio Weather: High winds develop tonight; thunderstorms late tonight
-
Oklahoma11 minutes agoTornado Watch issued for parts of northeastern Oklahoma
-
Oregon17 minutes agoCoast Guard rescues injured man stranded on cliff near Depoe Bay on Oregon coast Saturday
-
Pennsylvania23 minutes agoCool night ahead but nice and seasonable for Monday
-
Rhode Island29 minutes agoDominican national sentenced for role in California to Rhode Island drug trafficking conspiracy after 8 kilos of cocaine, 2.2 kilos of fentanyl seized
-
South-Carolina35 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for April 26, 2026
-
South Dakota41 minutes ago
SD Lottery Millionaire for Life winning numbers for April 26, 2026
-
Tennessee47 minutes agoTennessee man dies after falling from raft into Ocoee River