Here’s What We Know About The Situation Involving Four Americans Kidnapped In Mexico

Four Americans were allegedly attacked and taken hostage in Mexico by the Gulf Cartel, a syndicate of drug traffickers.

Their abductions quickly launched a rescue operation from Mexican authorities — who ultimately discovered that two of the victims had been killed after the group crossed the southern border.

Soon after the group of friends — Latavia McGee, Eric Williams, Zindell Brown, and Shaeed Woodard — from South Carolina arrived in the city of Matamoros in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas on March 3, the four individuals were caught in a shootout between rival cartel gangs and forced into the back of a pickup truck at gunpoint.

Officials from Tamaulipas claimed that the cartel members had moved the victims across the state in an effort to confuse authorities and avoid rescue efforts.

By Tuesday morning, authorities had discovered McGee and Williams in a small wooden house about six miles from the crime scene — in a place called La Lagunona in the town of El Tecolote. McGee was unharmed, but Williams survived with only non-threatening gunshot wounds on his legs.

Brown and Woodard didn’t survive.

Authorities took the survivors north of Brownsville, Texas to receive medical attention, while the dead were taken to Matamoros to undergo forensic examinations. The Daily Mail reports that authorities returned the bodies to the United States on Wednesday. reported.

The relatives of the kidnapped claimed that McGee, his four friends, and one friend traveled to Mexico in order to get medical treatment to reduce abdominal fat. Cheryl Orange was denied entry into Mexico by Mexican authorities when she reached the border.

Orange, according to legend, wrote in a note that she “would not be surprised if her friends got arrested because they are known to party and use narcotics,” According to NewsNation.

According to the U.S. Department of StateThe city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, is currently under an a “Do Not Travel” advisory, citing organized crimes activity including kidnappings, shootings, and robberies.

“Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments,” The warning states.

People close to the victims of the abduction claimed that the four men were friends who grew up in South Carolina. The Daily Mail has a detailed report that all four of the people involved in Mexico kidnapping had a long criminal history. This included crimes such as drug possession and distribution, burglary, domestic violence, and unlawful conduct towards children.

According to People, Woodard, 33, worked as a manager at a Myrtle Beach hotel and assisted in raising his extended family members.

“Shaeed was one of the good guys: gentle, humble, and sweet,” Sonya Singletary, niece, told People. “He was willing to help anybody and give you the shirt off his back, always smiling and positive.”

Brown, who lived in Myrtle Beach was described as “The Great Brown” by his family. “a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend.”

“Zindell kept saying, ‘We shouldn’t go down,'” Zalandria Brown, sister, told The Associated Press. “This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from.”

Burgess’ mother says McGee, 35, was a mother-of-six from Myrtle Beach. McGee is a cousin of Woodard.

“She was crying. I asked her how she was doing. She doing okay,” Burgess stated that he was an ABC News affiliate WPDE. “She was crying because her brother [cousin Shaeed Woodard] got killed, and she watched him die. She watched two of them die. They died in front of her.”

Williams, 38, resides in Winston-Salem with Michele and their child.

Jerry Wallace, Williams’ cousin told The New York Post Wednesday saw him announce that he is now out of surgery, and that he is “talking strong” about everything.

“He [is] doing better than what he was,” Wallace,

Mexican authorities arrested Tuesday a suspect allegedly connected to the fatal abduction.

Jose Guadalupe N. was a Mexican National in his 20s who was protecting the Matamoros wooden house where cartel members kept the Americans when authorities arrested him. Authorities have not confirmed that Guadalupe N. is involved in the cartel accused of kidnapping U.S. nationals.

According to The Associated PressUnidentified individual claiming to be part of the Gulf Cartel that was responsible for the fatal abduction “condemned the violence and purportedly turned over its own members who were involved to authorities.” The letter also offers an apology for Matamoros’ residents and to the Mexican woman who lost her life in the shooting as well as the four Americans, their families, and the four Americans.

“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” The letter stated that the individuals had violated the cartel’s rules which included “respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.”

NewsNation Reports claim that Mexico authorities arrested five Gulf Cartel-turned-over men, alleging they were responsible for the deaths Woodard and Brown.

Mexican authorities are still looking for a motive in the kidnapping. One possible theory is that the American nationals may have been confused with Haitian drug smugglers.

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