A 21-year-old U.S. resident visiting family in the Ensenada wine country was kidnapped and shot dead earlier this month, authorities have confirmed. Ángel David Magaña Tostado was abducted on June 5 in Francisco Zarco, a small agricultural town along the Valle de Guadalupe corridor, and his body was discovered three days later on a rural road leading to the indigenous community of San José de la Zorra.
Official sources identified Magaña Tostado as the victim found on June 8. A missing persons report filed by local search collectives described him as a U.S. resident who had traveled to the area to visit relatives.
Kidnapping and Discovery
Francisco Zarco sits roughly 30 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of downtown Ensenada, at the eastern edge of Valle de Guadalupe. The town is a gateway to the wine region and is passed by thousands of visitors each weekend heading to the area’s restaurants and tasting rooms.
The road to San José de la Zorra, where Magaña Tostado’s body was found, branches off the main Valle de Guadalupe highway and climbs into the hills above the valley. The Kumiai indigenous community of San José de la Zorra is located about 10 kilometers from the main road. The area is sparsely populated and largely unpaved.
Wine Country Security Concerns
Valle de Guadalupe has grown into one of Baja California’s top tourist destinations over the past decade, drawing visitors from across Southern California and beyond to more than 100 wineries and dozens of high-profile restaurants. The region hosts major food and wine festivals throughout the year, with peak season running from May through October.
The killing comes roughly a year after the April 2024 murders of two Australian surfers and an American near Ensenada, a case that drew international attention and prompted protests from the local community demanding better security across the municipality.
No arrests in Magaña Tostado’s case have been announced. Authorities have not publicly stated a motive or identified suspects. The involvement of a U.S. resident could draw attention from the American consulate in Tijuana, which handles cases involving U.S. citizens and residents in Baja California.
Local search collectives, volunteer groups that help families locate missing persons, played a key role in publicizing Magaña Tostado’s disappearance and filing the initial report that led to the identification.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.