Mystery as the tortured body of a priest and second man found near the Mexican border two days after his disappearance

MYSTERY surrounds the discovery of two bodies, one belonging to a Catholic priest, along the US-Mexico border.

José Guadalupe Rivas Saldaña, 57, ministered for over 20 years at the Church of San Judas Tadeo in Tecate, Baja California before his mysterious death on May 17.

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The priest ran Casa del Migrante, a migrant shelter in Tecate, which is south of the Mexico border, 40 miles southeast of downtown San Diego.

He was reported missing after being last seen on May 15. His disappearance prompted the local Attorney General to launch an investigation.

The investigation turned into a double homicide investigation when authorities found Rivas Saldaña dead with head injuries on the outskirts of Tecate, according to Nexstar Media Group’s border report.

There are indications that the priest was tortured, the news agency reported, citing Infovaticana, a news agency based at the Vatican in Rome.

The second man’s body was beaten beyond recognition, the Catholic News Agency reported.

No further details about the second victim or his identity were released.

Rivas Saldaña was the fourth of 10 siblings.

According to the Catholic News Agency, he was ordained a priest on October 29, 1994 by Bishop Luis Morales Reyes of Torreón.

Archbishop Francisco Moreno Barrón, head of the Archdiocese of Tijuana, paid tribute to Rivas Saldaña during a service following the news of his death.

Moreno Barrón said the priest “returned to the Father’s house”.

Later, speaking to media representatives, he demanded that the Baja California Attorney’s Office find who was responsible for the murder.

“Let us pray to our heavenly Father to have mercy on him and that he may soon enjoy the heavenly homeland. Grant him eternal rest, Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon him. Rest in peace,” said Moreno Barrón.

So far, no suspects have been identified in the deaths of either man.

A documentary produced by Vatican News found that at least 47 pastoral workers for the Catholic Church in Mexico have been killed since 2005.

The country is considered one of the most dangerous in the world for clergy.

The body of another priest in the Archdiocese of Tijuana was found in October 2018. Father Ímar Arturo Orta was found in an abandoned car with multiple gunshot wounds.

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