2 Survivors of Deadly Mexico Kidnapping Being Treated at Texas Hospital, Say Authorities

Two Americans who survived adeadly kidnapping in Mexicohave been transported to a Texas hospital after they were found in a remote wooden shack, along with the bodies of their two friends who were killed during the harrowing ordeal.

Latavia Washington McGee, who is a mother of six, and Eric Williams survived the attack and a heavily-armed vehicle convoy escorted the two back to the U.S. on Tuesday, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojicasaid in a tweet.

Williams was shot three times in his legs, his wifeMichele Williams told CNN. Washington McGee was not injured. They had been held captive since crossing into the northeastern state of Tamaulipas from the Texas city of Brownsville on March 3.

Shaeed Woodard, Latavia Washington McGee, Eric Williams and Zindell Brown.Facebook (4)

The Attorney General said in his tweet that “investigation and intelligence work continues to capture those responsible.” He said the kidnapping appeared to be a case of mistaken identity and the group of Americans may have been confused with a rival Haitian gang.

Mexican authorities have arrested one person in connection with the deadly kidnappings, a 24-year-old man identified only as “Jose N,” who was allegedly guarding the victims at a “wooden house” in the Lagunona area, outside of Matamoros.

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Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal Anaya said at a Tuesday press conference that the kidnapping victims had been moved from place to place as a method to keep them hidden from any rescue attempts.

Barbara Burgess spoke with ABC 15and confirmed her daughter, LaTavia McGee, of Myrtle Beach, was alive. “I talked to her. The nurse at the hospital called and let me talk to her,” Burgess said.

Michele Williams said she cried “tears of joy” when her husband Eric had called her while being transported to a Texas hospital to tell her he was alive.

The group had traveled to Mexico for health care, with one of them having scheduled a “tummy tuck” surgery,The New York Timesreported.

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The U.S. citizens were in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates when an unknown gang opened fire on them. An innocent local woman was also killed in the crossfire,US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said.

Agraphic video that purportedly shows the violent kidnappinghas circulated on social media. It shows men wearing what appear to be tactical vests as they drag people across a road and into the back of a white pickup truck.

TheU.S. Department of State travel advisorylists Tamaulipas State under the “Do Not Travel To” section due to crime and kidnapping. The advisory says the area is known for organized crime activity including “gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault.” The advisory states that “criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles.”

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In Matamoros, U.S. government employees may only travel within a limited radius around the U.S. consulate and their homes, as well as the border crossing and some limited downtown sites, according to the advisory, which notes there is an overnight curfew for government employees.

Matamoros and the state of Tamaulipas are infamous for violence related to drug trafficking. The city is home to theGulf Cartel, one of the most well-established illicit drug networks in the country,The Washington Postreports. The Gulf Cartel is known for its ruthlessness and for terrorizing the local population.

However, the presence of violent cartels has not dissuaded many U.S. citizens from crossing the border to seek affordable health care. Americans frequently visit Mexico to access dentists, pharmacies, optometrists and cosmetic surgeries, thePostreports.

source: people.com