You are here

Bodies of Three Mexican Nationals Found in Big Bend National Park

Share

Summer storm drenches the desert at Big Bend National Park. Photo by DanielJames via Flickr.

It’s happened again. A party of Mexican nationals who entered the United States illegally tried to make their way across desert terrain in searing heat and fatally misjudged the risk. Rangers recently recovered the bodies of three illegal immigrants in Big Bend National Park, and there is reason to suspect that even more Mexican nationals may have perished recently in the area.

Big Bend, a large, isolated park bordering on the Rio Grande River, is not a good place to be out in the open at this time of year, especially if you don’t have plenty of water and lots of stamina. Cross country desert travel is extremely hazardous in June, which is one of the two hottest months of the year in the park. By mid June, Big Bend had experienced triple digit temperatures virtually every day for more than a month.

On June 5, park rangers and Border Patrol agents responding to a 911 call from a park visitor recovered a man’s body that was discovered in the northeastern part of the park next to an isolated dirt road. The man had apparently died of heat and thirst.

Rangers conducted interviews in the Mexican border town of Boquillas and learned that a man matching the description of the deceased had crossed the Rio Grande and entered the park on May 30. There were two other men with him.

Rangers found a second body on June 9 after backtracking from the site where the first body was found. Yet another body, presumably that of the third man in the group, was discovered on June 16 on an abandoned road near Telephone Canyon. This discovery was made as the result of a systematic search of the suspected route taken by the three individuals who entered the park May 30.

Rangers recovered three backpacks, one of which contained identification for at least one of the bodies. Positive identification of all three bodies awaits the results of autopsies performed in El Paso and interviews conducted with relatives in the United States and Mexico. The Mexican consulate office is cooperating.

There is reason to think that additional bodies may be found in or near Big Bend. While conducting the investigation focused on the three deceased individuals, officials learned that other Mexican nationals who may have entered the U.S. through the park have failed to show up at their intended destinations.

Comments

No sympathy here, they were breaking the law. Darwin candidates.


To the author of: "No sympathy here, they were breaking the law. Darwin candidates."

They were human beings, Gods children. Flesh and blood. Men with wives and children - whose papa is never coming home again. People trying to better themselves, and in this case trying to reach one of their wifes who was reportedly giving child birth and having problems.

I hope if you return in the "next life" you will be more compassionate with more humility.

Best Regards

ShaneA


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.