Kidnapped Zacatecas, Mexico mayor found dead

[News_Editor]

Kidnapped Zacatecas, Mexico mayor found dead

2011-07-29 07:32:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

ZACATECAS, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- The mayor of a municipality in Zacatecas, Mexico and a livestock rancher were killed after being kidnapped on Wednesday, officials said Thursday.

Fortino Cortes, Mayor of Florencia de Benito Juarez, which is located in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, and Gilberto Perez, a livestock rancher, were kidnapped on Wednesday when a convoy broke into the Region Livestock Union of Zacatecas.

Attorney Arturo Nahle Garcia on Thursday confirmed that the bodies of Cortes and Perez were found in Huejucar, Jalisco, on the boundary of Zacatecas. The bodies were found with their hands and feet tied. They have been sent to the Forensic Medical Department of Jalisco, where autopsies will be performed.

Nahle Garcia said local authorities are currently carrying out investigations into internal conflicts involving organizations within the regional livestock sector, as well as confrontations between cartels that could have links to one or both men.

Last March, Cortes was elected as regional leader of the livestock sector, but opposition groups denounced alleged irregularities in the election and questioned the dual position he would have as mayor and livestock leader.

In addition, on May 20, drug cartels 'Los Zetas' and 'Carteles Unidos' had a bloody confrontation in which Cortes' brother was killed. The violent clash lasted for hours, and fifteen people were killed. As a result, local authorities said the mayor's relationship with drug cartels could be the key behind his death.

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