Missing Ohio architect, fiancée found dead in Mexico

An Ohio architect, his fiancée, and two of her kinfolk who went lacking Christmas Day in Mexico have been confirmed lifeless.

The loss of life of José Gutiérrez, who was in Mexico for the vacations visiting his fiancée Daniela Pichardo, was introduced Tuesday by his employer Champlin Structure in a Fb submit.

“We’ll all miss him greater than phrases can specific,” the corporate wrote.

Final week, native authorities in Mexico discovered 4 our bodies and a van riddled with bullet holes within the state of Zacatecas, in line with native information shops.

Three of the 4 our bodies had been recognized as Pichardo, her sister and her cousin. The fourth physique, belonging to a person, is believed to be Gutiérrez’s stays, Ohio’s Fox 19 information station reported.

Investigators are ready for DNA affirmation earlier than definitively figuring out the stays.

The van had not less than a dozen bullet holes, in addition to blown tires. It’s believed to be the automobile the foursome had been utilizing to journey round Zacatecas, TV Azteca reported.

The households of each Gutiérrez and Pichardo feared they’d been kidnapped after not listening to from both after Christmas day.

Witnesses reported listening to screams of panic and noticed the 4 being pulled right into a van.

The US Division of State lists Zacatecas on its “don’t journey to” advisory for Individuals as a result of previous abductions and ongoing violence within the space.

“Violent crime, extortion, and gang exercise are widespread in Zacatecas state. US residents and LPRs [lawful permanent residents] have been victims of kidnapping,” the advisory states.

Gutiérrez was born in Mexico earlier than transferring to the US. He obtained his grasp’s diploma from the College of Miami and labored for the Cincinnati-based agency Champlin Structure.

The agency introduced that it plans to create a scholarship in his title at his alma mater “with a purpose to honor his affect to our agency and the neighborhood.”

Gutiérrez and Pichardo had been planning to get married this yr.