Two women from Arizona met a tragic end on a dangerous stretch of Mexican highway on August 23, 2024, according to prosecutor statements.
The victims, aged 72 and 82, identified only by their first names, Enedina and Ubaldina, were discovered dead at approximately 10:30 a.m. Their bullet-ridden, flipped white Nissan Pathfinder was found on the side of the Sonoyta-Caborca highway, close to a Mexican border town, as indicated by the Sonora attorney general’s office.
Enedina and Ubaldina, whose last names were not released, were Arizona residents traveling to their birthplace of Caborca, which is over 100 miles southwest of the US-Mexico border. Authorities report that they fell victim to a gunman’s attack.
During the ensuing investigation, police found a stolen navy blue Ford F-150 truck. The vehicle contained a stash of magazines and cartridges, four AK-47 rifles, and three ballistic vests, as reported by the prosecutor’s office.
In response to the crime, security forces from three government levels swiftly initiated an operation to track down and capture the criminals responsible. Specialized air and ground forces were used in this effort, according to Sonora state prosecutors. However, no arrests have been made at this time.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday that both women had sadly passed away. It was established that one of the victims was a lawful permanent resident, while the other was an American citizen. The State Department stated that they “are closely monitoring the situation.”
The highway where the victims were found is located near the town of Sonoyta in the state of Sonora. This region has been plagued by frequent incidents of violence. In the previous year, a graduate student from California was also killed in Sonora. Due to the high crime rate and the threat of kidnapping, the State Department has advised Americans to reconsider any travel plans to Sonora.
