Municipal police discovered two bodies showing signs of violence on a rural road near the indigenous community of San José de la Zorra, in the Francisco Zarco delegation north of Ensenada, on Thursday morning.
The report reached authorities at 10:45 a.m. When officers arrived, they found both victims beside the roadway in a state of decomposition. Members of the Jeral search collective, a civilian group that searches for missing persons, made the initial discovery and alerted police.
Discovery Near Wine Country Route
Francisco Zarco sits in the Valle de Guadalupe corridor, a rural agricultural area about 20 miles northeast of downtown Ensenada. The delegation is home to vineyards, olive groves, and the Kumiai indigenous community of San José de la Zorra, which draws visitors for its traditional basketry and cultural tourism.
The road where the bodies were found leads from the main valley road into the hills toward the indigenous settlement. Authorities cordoned off the scene for forensic processing. No identities have been released, and investigators have not disclosed a possible motive.
Search Collectives Fill a Gap
The Jeral collective is one of several citizen search groups operating across Baja California. These organizations, typically led by families of missing persons, conduct independent searches of remote terrain, riverbeds, and vacant lots. Their work has led to the discovery of numerous clandestine burial sites and abandoned remains throughout the state in recent years.
Baja California’s state prosecutor’s office (FGE) has not released a public statement about the case as of publication. The municipal police continue to guard the scene while state investigators process evidence.
The Valle de Guadalupe area normally sees heavy weekend tourist traffic, particularly during summer months when visitors from Tijuana, Ensenada, and Southern California flock to the region’s wineries and restaurants. The discovery site lies off the main tourist route, on a secondary road used primarily by residents and agricultural workers.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.