A University of B.C. graduate student has been found slain on a Mexican beach after going missing in December.
The body of Ximena Osegueda, a Canadian citizen and PhD student in Hispanic Studies at UBC, was discovered half-buried in the sand near the resort community of Huatulco late last month, according to Mexican media. Her partner Alejandro Santamaria was also found dead.
Identifying the bodies took some time because they were in an advanced stage of decompositions, according to local newspapers. They are also reporting that police found evidence of stab wounds on the necks of both bodies. The pair disappeared on Dec. 13.
Local reports suggest that the beach where the pair was discovered has been used as a burial ground by organized crime.
Canadian Foreign Affairs officials say that consular officials in Mexico are gathering information about the slaying and providing assistance to the family.
The news comes just days after Salt Spring Island's Robin Wood was shot to death during a home invasion in Melaque.