CNN
—
Three American ladies are believed to be lacking in Mexico after they crossed the US border from Texas to promote garments at a flea market over two weeks in the past, police advised CNN on Saturday.
Marina Perez Rios, 48, her sister Martiza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47, and their pal Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz, 53, crossed into Mexico on February 24, Roel Bermea, the Peñitas, Texas police chief, advised CNN on Saturday.
The group was heading to the town of Montemorelos within the Mexican state of Nuevo León to promote garments at a flea market, Bermea mentioned. The flea market is a few 3-hour drive south from the US border.
The three ladies went lacking one week earlier than 4 Individuals have been kidnapped on March 3 within the Mexican border metropolis of Matamoros, which is roughly 300 miles east of Montemorelos.
Two of the Individuals, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, have been killed and their our bodies have been delivered Thursday to US diplomatic authorities, in line with a Mexican official. The 2 survivors – LaTavia Washington McGee and Eric Williams – returned to the US Tuesday to be handled in a hospital.
Six individuals in whole have been arrested in connection to the violent March 3 abduction, together with one on Tuesday, Tamaulipas Lawyer Basic Irving Barrios Mojica mentioned Friday.
An apology letter was issued Thursday by the Gulf Cartel, which is believed to be accountable for the kidnappings, and the group handed over 5 of its members to native authorities, in line with photographs circulating on-line and a model of the letter obtained by CNN from an official conversant in the continuing investigation.
Marina’s husband spent all weekend calling the ladies. When he hadn’t heard from them by Monday, he turned to investigators for assist, in line with authorities.
The chief mentioned the division confirmed the ladies crossed the border on the Anzalduas Port of Entry on February 24 in a 1995 Chevy Silverado.
As soon as the crossing was confirmed, the FBI was notified, Bermea mentioned.
CNN has reached out to the FBI for remark however has not heard again.
It’s unclear whether or not Mexican authorities are investigating the matter.
A State Division spokesperson advised CNN Saturday the division is “conscious of stories of three U.S. residents lacking in Mexico.”
“The Division of State has no greater precedence than the welfare and security of U.S. residents overseas. We stand prepared to offer applicable help to U.S. residents in want and to their households,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“When a U.S. citizen is lacking, we work carefully with native authorities as they perform their search efforts, and we share info with households nonetheless we will,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The chief urged the general public to name native authorities with any info that might result in the whereabouts of the ladies.