Posted on 10/07/2010 3:53:24 PM PDT by roses of sharon
ZAPATA, TEXAS — Blood, witness accounts and other unspecified evidence all corroborate the version of events laid out by a Colorado woman whose husband is missing and presumed dead after an attack on a lake straddling the Mexican border, the sheriff leading the investigation said this afternoon.
Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. detailed some of the reasons he does not doubt that David Hartley, a 30-year-old Loveland native, was murdered a week ago by a drug gang on Falcon Lake, a 44-mile long waterway bisected by the U.S.-Mexico border.
And Gonzalez's faith was echoed by three congressmen who visited this border town today to discuss the ongoing effort to find Hartley's body and return it to American
soil.
"We have to rely on the law enforcement officials," said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, at an afternoon news conference.
Hartley's wife, Tiffany, told sheriff's investigators that the couple had ridden their personal watercraft into Mexican waters to explore the town of Old Guerrero, which was flooded after the Falcon Dam was built in the 1950s. One of its spectacular sights is the ancient Catholic church, rising from the reservoir's waters. Tiffany Hartley told investigators that the couple was approached by armed young men in several boats, and that her husband was shot in the head. At one point, she said she tried to pull him onto her waverunner, but she ultimately fled amid gunfire and was chased all the way to the shore on the edge of Zapata.
Her story has been the subject of speculation among Mexican officials and others in recent days, and the first question at today's press conference was whether Cuellar or two other congressmen were suspicious of it.
But Gonzalez said he is not and said there is extensive evidence to corroborate her version of events.
He said an eyewitness - a man working outside that day - witnessed Tiffany Hartley being chased by a small boat with several men in it. He said investigators have concluded that the man was truthful and had no connection to her.
In addition, he said Tiffany Hartley's life jacket was smeared with blood that likely stained it as she tried to pull her husband's body onto her craft. And he said other witnesses have been interviewed who saw the couple in Zapata before they set out on their, and the information - and, in particular, the times - provided by those people also line up.
He said the type of attack described by Tiffany Hartley is exactly like other incidents in April and May on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake in which Americans were robbed. The only difference, he said, is that no one was injured then.
Finally, he said "other evidence has surfaced" that he would not specify that backs Tiffany Hartley's statements and descriptions.
The effort to locate David Hartley's body and return it to his family grew more intensive Thursday, Cuellar said. He said Mexican authorities had assured him that 60 federal agents were involved in searches both on the ground along the banks of the lake near Old Guerrero and in the water. They were using 20 vehicles, three boats and a helicopter.
A similar search had begun a day earlier but was called off after members of a drug cartel apparently threatened the law officers.
"It's not where you're going out there and it's the middle of a park and everything's fine," Cuellar said. "There are threats."
What items are you speaking of?
I don’t know. It could be an insurance scam. Supposedly they lived in Mexico for 2-1/2 years and only just recently moved back to the States. Timing seems odd.
Well then, since they're not doing nothing about it, and they just shot this Texan in the back of the head, sending him to the bottom, they might as well give the Texas side of the lake away to Mexico...
Is this the nice PC term for "Common Mexican criminals", who shoot, rob and kill Americans?
One guy thought they were the "Drug Cartels"....Nope, these are just common Mexican criminals and murderers, shooting Texan jet skiers in the back of the head, and robbing others...etc....
I’ve seen some of those posts but also many questioning this woman. Apparently they thought she killed her husband and was blaming it on the pirates.
Post pics of cool guns and military helicopters...
We're tough!!
I’m thinking that instead of that, they need to blow the head off of the pirates. Why anyone would go out on that lake with the history that its had (according to people who are in the area) without a pistol or a semi automatic is beyond comprehension. But it is what it is and any american getting caught with their ‘pants down’ after this, deserve it.
Well, it's good enough for the Somalis.......
Too funny...
I love how the media calls them pirates instead of Mexican criminals and Mexican murderers...And everyone says, ya the pirates did it!
Yes I’ve seen where others have questioned her innocence but in light of what has been published (other attacks) regarding prior incidences on that lake, I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt. No matter what she says though, or does she will be suspect because she was alone with him but it is plausible that pirates did this. The only way (imo) to find out is investigate her immediate background.
Now that’s a good looking weapon. lol Yes I’m one of those that is attracted to ‘looks’. (Don’t hate me because I’m shallow.) :O
Well...I would call them scum but they’re probably more PC than me or you.
Pirates.....lol
The have boats and guns. That’s about all an MSM reporter can absorb at once.
The only thing I question is why someone would go out into that lake. Especially across the border into Mexico.
I agree. One thing that stood out to me was that nothing indicated they were armed. Well with current tensions, you would have to be out of your mind to go out on an excursion like that and not be armed. It’s all suspicious but due to the fact that this type of thing has happened (more than once) it is possible. On the other hand, if she is a particular devious woman, it may have been well planned and thought out.
It’s going to be interesting to hear the outcome...if we ever do that is.
the whole damn thing is a joke...Including your lame ass comment
lol...
“On the other hand, if she is a particular devious woman, “
Isn’t that redundant? :)
/s
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