At a remote hideout where two Americans were found dead and two others rescued, satellite images reveal the chilly location

SHOCKING photos reveal the Mexican hideout where two Americans were found dead after four friends were kidnapped.

The South Carolina crew had been in the country for two and a half hours when they were hit by gunfire by Mexican drug cartels in a tragic mix-up.

The storage shed in Mexico where four South Carolina friends were held hostage after drug cartels mistook them for rivals, authorities say

7

The storage shed in Mexico where four South Carolina friends were held hostage after drug cartels mistook them for rivals, authorities sayPhoto credit: Reuters
Mexican police arrived at the hideout where they found two of the friends dead

7

Mexican police arrived at the hideout where they found two of the friends deadPhoto credit: Getty Images – Getty
Suspect Jose Guadalupe N, who was guarding the door, was taken into custody

7

Suspect Jose Guadalupe N, who was guarding the door, was taken into custodyPhoto credit: Getty Images – Getty

Authorities believe Shaeed Woodard, 33, and Zindell Brown, in her 20s, were shot dead while mother Latavia “Tay” McGee and Eric James Williams were kidnapped when they were believed to be Haitian drug smugglers on March 3.

The surviving friends, who accompanied McGee to a tummy tuck appointment, were held hostage for days in the northern state of Tamaulipas until officers rescued them.

Newly emerged satellite images show the cramped storage shed where the two surviving hostages were held at Matamoros.

Mexican police have arrested Jose Guadalupe N., 24, who was found guarding the horror house on Tuesday.

Alex Murdaugh's brother's chilling admission about the killer after sentencing
Mother and boyfriend found guilty of'monstrous' torture and murder of 10-year-old

McGee and Williams were transported back to Brownsfield, Texas, where they were hospitalized and treated for their injuries.

Authorities said Williams was shot in the leg and his condition is unknown.

Woodard and Brown receive autopsies before being returned to the United States

The group was traveling in a white van with a North Carolina license plate when they pulled into Matamoros.

They got lost trying to find the medical center and had poor cell phone signal, a close friend of McGee’s told CNN.

According to police, the area works with powerful Gulf drug cartels, which the four apparently thought were rivals.

Attorney General Irving Barrios said no ransom was ever demanded and confirmed it was likely a case of false identity.

None of the victims had a criminal record.

A 33-year-old Mexican national was also shot dead by a stray bullet as gunfire rang out, Tamaulipas governor Américo Villarreal said on Tuesday.

TERRIFIC PHOTOS

A video believed to have shown the moment of the kidnapping was shared on social media.

Heartbroken family members have begun to speak out and share their horror upon seeing the horrifying footage.

“It’s like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from,” Brown’s sister Zalandria told AP on Monday.

“To see a family member being thrown into the back of a truck and being dragged along is just incredible.”

She revealed Brown was concerned about the trial, which was set to take place in an area notorious for high crime.

“Zindell kept saying, ‘We shouldn’t go under,'” she said.

Brown lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and is “extremely close” with the friends he’s traveled with.

Zalandria announced that the group has come together to share driving duties.

A video of the capture was shared on social media last week. It showed a group of men with assault rifles loading four people onto a white van.

While one appeared alive and could sit up straight, the others looked wounded or dead.

A passerby in the area spoke anonymously and shared some details of the violent encounter and said that a white minivan was hit by another vehicle near an intersection where shots were fired.

She appears to have witnessed the kidnapping and the shooting.

“Suddenly they (the gunmen) were in front of us,” she said. “I went into shock, nobody honked, nobody moved. Everyone must have thought the same thing: ‘If we move, they will see us or they might shoot us.’”

She said a woman could walk and was forced into the back of a truck and another person was carried inside and was able to move her head.

“The other two dragged her across the sidewalk, we don’t know if they were alive or dead,” she said.

Shaeed Woodard was one of the US citizens killed in the shooting

7

Shaeed Woodard was one of the US citizens killed in the shootingPhoto credit: Instagram
Zindell Brown was also killed after the tragic misunderstanding

7

Zindell Brown was also killed after the tragic misunderstandingPhoto credit: family handout

FAMILY SPEAKS

Woodard’s grieving aunt, Betty McGill, opened up about her beloved relatives in an interview with NewsNation where she described McGee as a “very loving mother”.

“Everywhere she goes, she always finds friends.”

Woodard, McGee’s cousin, was a “quiet” and “very helpful” man, according to his heartbroken aunt.

“It’s just shocking,” said McGill’s son, Hakquan Burgess.

“It’s like I can’t believe it.”

Williams’ wife said she was grateful her husband survived the horrific incident but was devastated for the other families.

He told her he was going to help some friends and she didn’t know where he was going.

“Friday morning he texted me and I texted him back straight away,” Michelle told KTLA.

“He didn’t answer, I assume that’s when he was mugged.”

On Sunday, the FBI showed up at her door and told her what had happened.

The distraught woman said the entire incident was surreal and was grateful when she received the news that Williams had survived.

“I felt a sense of relief,” she told the outlet.

Families of Americans kidnapped in Mexico speak out after two dead
Farmer Wants A Wife star reveals everyday chores sparked horror in contestants

“Because I haven’t slept since Sunday. My heart breaks for the other two families who can’t say the same thing.”

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration is working with Mexican officials to investigate the hijacking.

Eric James Williams survived the incident and is being treated in Texas

7

Eric James Williams survived the incident and is being treated in TexasCredit: Facebook
The friends drove to the country so LaTavia McGee (pictured) could have a tummy tuck

7

The friends drove to the country so LaTavia McGee (pictured) could have a tummy tuckPhoto credit: Instagram

https://www.the-sun.com/news/7575481/two-americans-found-dead-lair-mexico-kidnapping/ At a remote hideout where two Americans were found dead and two others rescued, satellite images reveal the chilly location

PaulLeBlanc

PaulLeBlanc is a Dailynationtoday U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. PaulLeBlanc joined Dailynationtoday in 2021 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with me by emailing: paulleblanc@dailynationtoday.com.

Related Articles

Back to top button