Dismembered bodies of nine students found next to highway in Mexico

WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS

The dismembered bodies of nine students who went missing while on holiday have been discovered near a highway in Mexico.

The remains of five people were found under a bloody tarp, while the other four were found in the boot of an abandoned Volkswagen Vento a few metres away on March 2 in San Jose Miahuatlan, about 240kms south-east of Mexico City.

A bag with eight pairs of hands were also found, with another two hands in the trunk.

Early reports said the bodies were found with bullet holes and showed signs of torture.

It is believed they were all students from Tlaxcala, four women and five men, who had been reported missing since February 27.

They had all been travelling together to the south of the country and the beaches of Oaxaca.

It is understood the bodies were found while National Guard agents were conducting a surveillance operation on the Cuacnopalan-Oxaca highway.

The deaths are believed to be yet another savage cartel killing.

Two of the students were found with their ID cards: Angie Lizeth, 29 and a woman named Lesly Trejo, 21.

The other seven, believed to be aged between 19-30, are Brenda Mariel, Jacqueline Ailet, Noemi Yamileth, Raul Emmanuel, Ruben Antonio, and Rolando Armando.

A ninth victim is still to be identified.

At a press conference on Monday the head of the State Attorney General’s office (FGE), Idamis Pastor Betancourt said he could not provide details of the investigation.

“So far I cannot offer information, there are lines of investigation, but I cannot reveal them due to confidentiality,” he said.

“All relevant investigations are being carried out. When we have a response and the investigation is complete, we will be in a position to provide more information.”