Gangs thwart search for tourist on Mexican border

ZAPATA, Texas – A search for a missing American tourist presumably shot and killed by Mexican pirates on a border lake has been thwarted by threats of an ambush from drug gangs, U.S. officials said Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told reporters that Mexican authorities are doing everything they can to find David Hartley’s body while trying to keep their own crews safe.

“When darkness was falling (Wednesday evening), they got word that there might be an ambush,” Cuellar said. “People that are trying to do their job on the Mexican side are facing a risk, they’re right inside the hornets’ nest … they had to suspend the search” until midmorning Thursday.

Tiffany Hartley said her husband, David, was shot to death by Mexican pirates chasing them on speedboats across Falcon Lake on Sept. 30 as they returned on Jet Skis from a trip to photograph a historic Mexican church. Neither his body nor the Jet Ski has been recovered.

That part of Tamaulipas state is overrun by violence from a turf battle between the Gulf Cartel and the Zeta drug gang, made up of former Mexican special forces soldiers, and both are battling the Mexican military.

Thursday, Jesus de la Garza, Tamaulipas deputy attorney general, said more than 100 people were searching for the body using speedboats, helicopters and all-terrain vehicles. Divers have also been deployed, he said.

Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez said he has sent word to the Zetas that he wants the body returned and has no plans to prosecute.

Gonzalez said he has not received a response.