More than听three weeks after Patrick Braxton-Andrew was last seen alive, his body听has been found in northern Mexico. On November 15, Javier Corral, the governor of Chihuahua, that the 34-year-old Braxton-Andrew was killed by a drug dealer named Jos茅 Noriel Portilo Gil, in the tiny city of Urique, in Chihuahua.听Another , set up by a family friend to help search for Braxton-Andrew, confirmed the news with a 听on the same day:听鈥淏ased on information provided by the Chihuahua State authorities, it is with great sadness that we announce that Patrick died on October 28听at the hands of a criminal organization that operates in the area where he was traveling.鈥 On November 17, another 听on the same page听stated that his body had been recovered and would be brought back to the U.S.
Braxton-Andrew, a Spanish teacher at Woodlawn School in Mooresville, North Carolina, was an avid traveler who sought out hidden places, his father, Gary, told 国产吃瓜黑料 last week. He was drawn to Urique for the opportunity to hike the empty trails of Copper Canyon National Park, a remote wilderness of deep, twisting ravines that draws only the occasional adventurer. Braxton-Andrew was last heard from on October 28, the same day he was听reportedly听killed, when he mentioned heading out on one last hike to his family. News outlets reported that he never returned, but evidence, such as his camera and most of his belongings left behind in his hotel room, seemed to suggest that he had finished his trek and headed back to Urique before he died.
The region surrounding听Urique is one of the in Mexico. Mexican news media that Portilo Gil, known also as 鈥淓l Chueco,鈥 or 鈥渢he crooked one,鈥 is a ranking member of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, the group formerly headed by suspected drug lord Joaqu铆n 鈥淓l Chapo鈥 Guzm谩n.
A 听on the Facebook page dedicated to Braxton-Andrew鈥檚 search said they would work to find justice, and another听said that he died doing what he loved鈥攖raveling and meeting people. 鈥淲e will always remember Patrick and his joy for life,鈥 the 听read. 鈥淲e love you PBA.鈥