Three young women have been found buried with their throats slit with signs of torture in a shallow grave in Ecuador.
The bodies of the missing young women were uncovered alongside the Esmeraldas River near Quininde, Ecuador, last week. The women were identified as Nayeli Tapia, 22, Denisse Reyna, 19, and Yuliana Macias, 21.
The horrifying discovery was made by local fishermen who noticed a dog sniffing the ground alongside a river bank. They alerted officials after also noticing a foul stench.
Police officers were called to the scene where they dug up and uncovered the bodies of the young women from the shallow grave.
Their bodies were each tied up, their throats slit, and their mouths covered, local news in Esmeraldas Province reported.
The women were identified as Nayeli Tapia (right) Denisse Reyna (middle) and Yuliana Macias (left)
The horrifying discovery was made by some fishermen who noticed a dog sniffing the ground alongside a river bank, where they also smelt a foul stench
Their bodies were each tied up, their throats slit, and their mouths covered, media in Esmeraldas Province reported. Pictured: Denisse Reyna, 19 (left), and Nayeli Tapia, 22 (right)
Nayeli Tapia (pictured), aged 22, was the oldest of the group of three women found dead together
Diego Velastegui of the Quininde Police told local media: ‘They were young, had beach clothes, bathing suits, light clothing, shorts.’
Nayeli Tapia, Denisse Reyna, and Yuliana Macias had left their homes in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas – over 50 miles from where they were found – after heading to the beach on April 4.
After not returning or getting in contact, their families reported the three girls missing later that day.
Crime scene investigators say the women were tortured and had their throats slit.
The victims’ families have said that they do not know the friends their relatives were supposed to meet.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the women were killed in the rural locality of Malimpia, in Quininde Parish, on April 5.
Investigators have reportedly identified the rental car that allegedly took the young women to the crime scene.
Yuliana’s aunt, Paulina Rueda, told local media: ‘All we want is justice, and if the public knows, they should report who is responsible for this horrible murder, because it’s three murders in one day.’
In addition to the bodies, police officers found a mobile phone, which they hope will help them solve the case.
Police officers were called to the scene, where they dug up and uncovered the bodies of the young women from a shallow grave
The victims, aged between 19 and 22, have been named as Nayeli Tapia (pictured), Denisse Reyna, and Yuliana Macias
Preliminary investigations suggest that the women were killed in the rural locality of Malimpia, in Quininde Parish, on April 5. Pictured: 19-year-old Denisse Reyna
Ms Reyna (pictured) was studying Agricultural Engineering at the State Technical University of Quevedo
The victims’ families have said that they do not know the friends their relatives were supposed to meet. Pictured: Denisse Reyna
Victim Nayeli, 22, grew up in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas but lived in Quito. She worked as a model.
The 21-year-old Yuliana was a singing student and performed with the band Las Diablitas.
The youngest of the women, Denisse, 19, was studying Agricultural Engineering at the State Technical University of Quevedo.
Grieving Paulina told local media that she and other relatives have been receiving threats for demanding justice.
She said: ‘I will stand until the last consequences, despite the fact that my life has been in danger since yesterday.’
She has pleaded with the public to not link the young women’s deaths to drug trafficking.
The victims were laid to rest on Sunday, April 9.
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