CNN
—
Three women are believed to be missing in Mexico after they crossed the US border touring from Texas to promote garments at a flea market over two weeks ago, police advised CNN on Saturday.
Marina Perez Rios, 48, her sister Martiza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47, and their good friend 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 stated. The flea market is a few 3-hour drive south from the US border.
The three women went missing one week earlier than four Americans were kidnapped on March 3 within the Mexican border metropolis of Matamoros, which is roughly 300 miles east of Montemorelos.
Two of the Americans, 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 two survivors – LaTavia Washington McGee and Eric Williams – returned to the US Tuesday to be handled in a hospital.
Six folks in whole have been arrested in connection to the violent March 3 abduction, together with one on Tuesday, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica stated Friday.
An apology letter was issued Thursday by the Gulf Cartel, which is believed to be answerable for the kidnappings, and the group handed over 5 of its members to native authorities, in line with photos circulating on-line and a model of the letter obtained by CNN from an official accustomed to the continued investigation.
Marina’s husband spent all weekend calling the women. When he hadn’t heard from them by Monday, he turned to investigators for assist, in line with authorities.
The chief stated the division confirmed the women crossed the border on the Anzalduas Port of Entry on February 24 in a 1995 Chevy Silverado.
Once the crossing was confirmed, the FBI was notified, Bermea stated.
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 Department spokesperson advised CNN Saturday the division is “aware of reports of three U.S. citizens missing in Mexico.”
“The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. We stand ready to provide appropriate assistance to U.S. citizens in need and to their families,” the spokesperson stated.
“When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can,” the spokesperson stated.
The chief urged the general public to name native authorities with any info that would result in the whereabouts of the women.