US Tourist Missing in Copper Canyon Was Killed by "Criminal Organization"

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The family of Patrick Braxton-Andrews has apparently been reliably informed that Patrick was killed on the day he left the hotel in Urique, Sunday, October 28, by a "criminal organization" in the vicinity.  He had spent the night in Urique, at the bottom of the canyon, and left his hotel for a hike and never came back.  He was due in Mexico City on Tuesday, October 30, to meet up with his brother before flying home to North Carolina.  More than 100 persons participated in a massive search for him.  The family is still hoping to locate his body to send it home.

The region around Copper Canyon is an important shipping route for drug traffickers headed to various crossing zones on the US-Mexico border, and there have been many clashes between drug organizations and authorities in that region in recent years.  It is, however, extremely unusual for tourists to be bothered.