In a shocking development, human remains uncovered near Tikal, the ancient Maya city in Guatemala, are believed to belong to Raymond Vincent Ashcroft, a 66-year-old US citizen who went missing in February 2023. Local officials, including Carlos Soza from the attorney-general's office, reported that the remains were accompanied by a lilac shirt, shorts, and sandals that matched Ashcroft's outfit on the day he disappeared.
Ashcroft was part of a birdwatching group visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site when he decided to return to their hotel but never arrived. His wife, who remained with the group photographing wildlife, raised the alarm once she realized he hadn’t made it back. Search efforts commenced within half an hour, yet initial attempts yielded no results, even with the deployment of sniffer dogs trained to navigate the dense jungle foliage.
Despite repeated searches and the issuance of a yellow notice by Interpol weeks later, the mystery of Ashcroft's disappearance persisted until this week. Residents from a nearby village discovered the human bones and items of clothing approximately 14 kilometers from the archaeological site, igniting hopes of closure for the missing birdwatcher's family.
Soza explained that the remains were deeply hidden within thick vegetation and would require a foot approach for recovery. A DNA test is scheduled to confirm if the bones belong to Ashcroft, adding an eerie chapter to the stories of tourists who have either vanished or faced dire situations in Tikal National Park over the years. In 2022, another tourist died of heatstroke after separating from a group, and in 2023, a French family was lost for two days but was ultimately found safe and well.
As the investigation develops, authorities continue to urge caution in the vast national park, which, while beautiful, poses significant challenges for visitors.
Ashcroft was part of a birdwatching group visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site when he decided to return to their hotel but never arrived. His wife, who remained with the group photographing wildlife, raised the alarm once she realized he hadn’t made it back. Search efforts commenced within half an hour, yet initial attempts yielded no results, even with the deployment of sniffer dogs trained to navigate the dense jungle foliage.
Despite repeated searches and the issuance of a yellow notice by Interpol weeks later, the mystery of Ashcroft's disappearance persisted until this week. Residents from a nearby village discovered the human bones and items of clothing approximately 14 kilometers from the archaeological site, igniting hopes of closure for the missing birdwatcher's family.
Soza explained that the remains were deeply hidden within thick vegetation and would require a foot approach for recovery. A DNA test is scheduled to confirm if the bones belong to Ashcroft, adding an eerie chapter to the stories of tourists who have either vanished or faced dire situations in Tikal National Park over the years. In 2022, another tourist died of heatstroke after separating from a group, and in 2023, a French family was lost for two days but was ultimately found safe and well.
As the investigation develops, authorities continue to urge caution in the vast national park, which, while beautiful, poses significant challenges for visitors.
