Texas Truck Tragedy: 8 Bodies of Mexicans Found Dead Transported to Their Home Country; More Bodies of Migrants To Be Returned

At least eight bodies of Mexican migrants who were found dead in the Texas truck tragedy were sent back to Mexico on Tuesday.

According to Associated Press, the bodies were the first of the 26 Mexican found dead in the semi-truck last month. In total, there were 53 dead migrants inside the vehicle when it was discovered in San Antonio.

The eight dead bodies of Mexicans were airlifted to an airport near Mexico City through an air force plane.

In a statement, Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that the air force plane would make a second trip to San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday to recover eight more victims.

Mexico's government plans to transfer 25 of the 26 victims to their country. The ministry added that the move was in line with the wishes of the families of the victims.

The identities of the Mexicans who fell victim to the tragedy were not mentioned. However, reports claimed that they were from the states of Guanajuato, Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos, Oaxaca, Queretaro, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.

Other victims of the Texas truck tragedy included those from Honduras and Guatemala. However, it was not clear when their bodies will be transferred back to their respective home countries.

Texas Truck Tragedy Victims

On July 6, authorities revealed that 47 out of the 53 migrants who died in the June 27 truck tragedy in Texas were identified. The dead included two 16-year-olds from Mexico and a 13 and 14-year-old from Guatemala, CBS News reported, citing the report from the medical examiner's office.

Relatives in Guatemala previously identified teenagers as cousins: Pascual Melvin Guachiac, 13, and Juan Wilmer Tulul Tepaz, 14.

Two victims were also identified from Honduras as Alejandro Miguel Andino Caballero and Margie Tamara Paz Grajeda, who are husband and wife. The couple was aged 23 and 24, respectively.

According to reports, the migrants inside the semi-truck died due to heat and dehydration after being locked inside the vehicle abandoned by smugglers. Temperatures on June 27 reportedly approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Texas Semi-Truck Tragedy

The semi-truck with migrants inside was found on June 27. At least 73 people were reportedly found inside the vehicle when it was discovered.

One survivor previously told AP that the smugglers covered the floors of the semi-truck with powdered chicken bouillon to avoid being detected by dogs at the checkpoint, per CBS News.

A Mexican identified as Homero Zamorano Jr. was charged in connection with the case. Zamorano was arrested in a nearby field where he pretended to be one of the injured migrants.

Zamorano was reportedly high on meth when he left the truck on the roadside of San Antonio. He also claimed that he had no idea that the air conditioner in the vehicle had stopped working.

Other suspects in the tragedy were named Christian Martinez, Juan Claudio D'Luna-Mendez, and Francisco D'Luna Bilbao. Martinez was accused of exchanging messages with Zamorano before the truck was discovered, while the two other suspects were allegedly involved with the smuggling, firearms possession, and being in the U.S. illegally.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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