David Hartley Update: Mexico Suspends Search for Missing American Tourist

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

David and Tiffany Hartley (Personal Photo)

McALLEN, Texas (CBS/AP) The search for American tourist David Hartley, whose wife insists was shot to death by pirates near the U.S.-Mexican border, has been temporarily called off, according to Mexican officials.

PICTURES: Tiffany and David Hartley

Tamaulipas state attorney general's office spokesman Ruben Dario Rios Lopez told the McAllen newspaper The Monitor that the search was suspended Thursday so that authorities can look into new strategies to find him and hopes police will be able to resume "in a few days."

Hartley's wife, Tiffany, says they were on their way back to the U.S. after photographing a historic Mexican church when pirates in boats opened fire on them, shooting her husband. She says she tried to help her husband but had to flee because they kept shooting.

Earlier Thursday a U.S. consulate official said Hartley may have been a victim of mistaken identity.

"I think what you had is two innocent American tourists who mistakenly stumbled into a bad area and were pursued and the shooting occurred," said Brian Quigley, spokesman for the U.S. consulate in Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas.

PICTURES: Tiffany and David Hartley

Tamaulipas state is the center of a violent rivalry between the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, a brutal drug gang made up of former Mexican special-forces soldiers. The search for Hartley's body has been repeatedly hampered by threats of an ambush from drug gangs, presumably the Zetas.

This week, a state police commander in Tamaulipas, Rolando Flores, who was investigating the Hartley disappearance, was killed, his decapitated head delivered in a suitcase to a local Mexican army post.

Mexican authorities say they don't know if Flores' death was related to the Hartley case because he was working on numerous investigations involving drug gangs.

Although no sign of Hartley or his Jet Ski have been found after more than a week of searching the lake, Quigley and local officials in Texas say they still believe Tiffany Hartley's story. The Stratfor report theorized that once the killers realized Hartley was an American, they destroyed the body to avoid a U.S. backlash.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE FALCON LAKE SHOOTING ON CRIMESIDER

14 Photos

Falcon Lake Shooting

View the Full Gallery »

1 Comments +

Add a Comment


by HenryMassingale November 7, 2010 10:56 AM EST: I have watched this story for a long time, and i waited to see the issues change, I myself must put faith in Tiffany. Some say that it was drug lords, or it could be just cold blooded killers looking for people to rob.
But now there is a story on the net called Building the Great Wall of China In America, and the respect of why China built that Wall. It will bring security and jobs to both sides of the border.
As of now the different Drug Empires watch as the USA/Government Officials attempt to take over the largest Empire in the world within this 9/11 war. At first I thought it to be a lie, now at the following information I will show you why this drug war by USA Government Officials is going to get a lot more people killed, on the border of America and Mexico.
I will not use my fire wall here at CBS the security is very good on the net, I know you all will not understand at first until you read and them you will understand......
Welcome to Fasc Concepts last posting within the
International Boycott Of The Arabic Drug Empire Phase 4
Why do I keep up the fight even though this War is coming to a end > to make sure our children will never see such issues again and will never be in a War based on lies, hope fully no Wars at all.... As Government Officials see for the first time, now their job are in danger and more will be voted out of Office, this Matrix of the Net has brought millions of people from all over the world, protesting a concept of a New World Order, but hey you guys on both sides have put a smile on my face and faces of millions of Americans, It is the voice of the People in America that guides the destiny of this Country, and is in forced by Constitutional Law. N.A.T.O does not dictate Policy in The USA.
I have been asked to show this evidence against this War and links to the Purdue Pharmaceutical Company. Will, I hid it in plan site because there are to many site posting with Fasc Concept just to make money. We do not except money, this keeps those at bay and limits interference. My system has been under the attempts of hackers, but rest assure thanks to yahoo.com and other programs my system is protected.
So if any one post asking for a money drive under Fasc Concepts by Henry Massingale report them at once.
Now here we go, The Purdue Pharmaceutical Company Paper Trail, and links to 9/11.Please note that this will be my largest 10x10 postings for the International Boycott Of The Arabic Drug Empire Phase 4. This is to show a people in distress in Afghan and the United States Of America, because of heroin.
This internet search of this is what you seek> { Pharmaceutical Company/FDA and/ United Nations/ 9/11 Paper Trail } will show all the reports, of how at first the poppy plants were being destroyed by USA and N.A.T.O. but only enough heroin left untouched in order to supply the worlds needs. Then the Afghan Drug Lords order the destruction of USA and N.A.T.O. Controlled areas. One must see how this so called forbidden apple has caused the failures of countries and lives for over 4000 thousand years.
Below is a interface, in order to bring all the voices as one, united is a goal. How do you help. Take 60 seconds of your time and share, tweet it because as now this Boycott of the Arabic Drug Empire is being shared by a lot of people. It is your children that showed me the way, and they ask for help. Because of this Pharmaceutical Heroin is killing their friends and family, their stories echo through out this Country, and I dont know about you all, but hey these children are right and Government Officials are finding out how powerful the uniting of the voices is all about.
I give my thanks to all of you, without your help it would be a lonely road.
sin., Henry Massingale
Henry Massingale / FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward covers the web post on google Drop by and see why we built a anti crime / war form in a Health Care Reform Concept. To strategically Rebuild America www.fascmovement.mysite.com on google look for page 1 american dream official site; Reply to this comment