Two women were found dead from gunshot wounds in a ravine along the free highway between Ensenada and Tijuana on Sunday, June 7. The Baja California Attorney General’s Office (FGE) confirmed the deaths as homicides after an initial report suggested a possible traffic accident.
The bodies were discovered at kilometer 68.5 of the Ensenada-Tijuana libre (free road), near the coastal community of La Misión. That stretch of highway sits roughly halfway between the two cities, about 30 miles south of Rosarito.
Rescue Teams Found No Vehicle, Only Victims
Emergency crews responded to a report of a possible accident at the ravine. When rescue units descended into the steep terrain, they found no wrecked vehicle. Instead, they discovered the two women’s bodies bearing gunshot wounds.
Baja California State Prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez confirmed the finding and said authorities are treating the case as a double homicide. Investigators have not yet identified either victim. No suspects have been named.
Ravine Known as Informal Dumping Site
The ravine where the bodies were found is known locally as an informal dumping ground, a detail that has raised concerns among investigators that the location may have been chosen deliberately to dispose of the victims. The remote, steep terrain makes discovery difficult and could delay the reporting of crimes.
The free highway between Ensenada and Tijuana runs along the Pacific coast and is one of the most traveled corridors in Baja California. Thousands of residents, commuters, and visitors use the road daily as an alternative to the toll highway (cuota). La Misión itself is a small community popular with surfers, weekenders from Tijuana, and a growing number of foreign residents.
Ongoing Violence Along the Corridor
The discovery adds to a troubling pattern of bodies found along or near the Ensenada-Tijuana corridor in recent years. Baja California has faced persistent homicide rates tied to cartel activity and organized crime. In July 2024, Ensenada fisheries leader Minerva Pérez was shot dead in the port city after publicly denouncing cartel extortion. In May 2023, a mass shooting near San Vicente, south of Ensenada, killed 10 people, including three Americans.
Authorities asked anyone with information about the two women found near La Misión to contact the FGE. The investigation remains open.
The case was first reported by Ensenada.net.