MCALLEN, Texas – Texas border authorities confirmed that a body that they found floating on the banks of the Rio Grande was that of a man who had been kidnapped in Mexico by a group of gunmen several weeks ago.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Breitbart Texas that the body that they had originally recovered on February 16 floating in the Rio Grande near the Progreso International Bridge has been identified as that of 39-year-old Roberto Cardoza.
At the time Cardoza’s body was found, authorities were not able to identify him, so sheriff’s investigators circulated a photograph of a distinctive tattoo that he had on his right shoulder in an effort to get help from the public.
As part of the investigation, investigators then learned that Cardoza’s family had reported him missing in January, about three weeks before his body was found. The family had reported to Mexican authorities that a group of gunmen had kidnapped him and he had not been heard from since.
Sheriff’s investigators are now working with the Mexican Consulate and Mexican authorities in an effort to get additional answers on Cardoza’s death.
As Breitbart Texas previously reported, in recent weeks the border cities in Mexico have been turned into war zones as warring factions of the Gulf Cartel have taken up arms. While Mexican officials claim the situation just south of the border is under control, the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros and the mayor of Matamoros have warned the public about convoys of gunmen taking part in large scale gun battles.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.