The bodies of two babies, a toddler, and young woman were found late Sunday night on the riverbank of the Rio Grande River, which separates the United States and Mexico, according to a local law enforcement official.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra said Border Patrol agents discovered the four bodies southeast of Texas’ Anzalduas Park in Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area.
“Bodies appear to be 2 infants, a toddler and 20yoa female. Deputies are awaiting FBI agents who will be leading,” Guerra said in a tweet posted late Sunday.
The FBI was called in to lead the investigation because the bodies were found on federal land.
BREAKING NEWS: Deputies are on scene by the river SE of the Anzalduas Park in Las Paloma Wildlife Management Area where Border Patrol agents located 4 deceased bodies. Bodies appear to be 2 infants, a toddler and 20yoa female. Deputies are awaiting FBI agents who will be leading. pic.twitter.com/2qPCYDjZBu
— Sheriff Eddie Guerra (@SheriffGuerra) June 24, 2019
Customs and Border Protection, as well as the FBI, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The four individuals may have been migrants attempting to cross the river when they drowned, however additional information has not been released.
Customs and Border Protection found 96 bodies in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas in fiscal 2018, the same region this incident took place. In total last year, federal agents found nearly 300 dead bodies on the southern border.
