Missing Mexican children found dead

Four children who vanished on their way to primary school in Mexico have been discovered suffocated and buried on a ranch not far from their homes, according to state authorities.

Three of the children were siblings and another was their neighbour in the colonial town of Tapijulapa. Their ages ranged from seven to 10.

Tabasco state Attorney General’s Office said their mothers became alarmed when their children did not return from school on Tuesday afternoon. When they went to question school officials, it emerged that the students had never arrived that morning.

The bodies were discovered yesterday in shallow graves at a ranch named “Honey and Milk” about two miles outside the town, which is in the municipality of Tacotalpa. Their faces had been covered with brown packing tape, which caused them to suffocate.

The motive for the killings remained unclear, but officials said there was no sign of organ trafficking.