Investigators in Guatemala believe remains found in the jungle could belong to Raymond Ashcroft, a U.S. birdwatcher who disappeared in February 2023 during a trip to Tikal National Park. Clothing matching his description was also found nearby.
Remains Discovered in Guatemalan Jungle Possibly Linked to Missing U.S. Birdwatcher
Remains Discovered in Guatemalan Jungle Possibly Linked to Missing U.S. Birdwatcher
Discovery of human bones and belongings near Tikal raises hopes for closure in a long-standing missing person case.
Human remains uncovered in the Guatemalan jungle are believed to belong to Raymond Vincent Ashcroft, a U.S. birdwatcher who went missing over two years ago, according to local officials. The discovery was made near the Tikal archaeological site, around 14 kilometers away from where Ashcroft was last seen. Items including a lilac shirt, sandals, and shorts that correspond to what Ashcroft wore on the day of his disappearance have also been located nearby, as confirmed by Carlos Soza of the Attorney-General's Office.
The 66-year-old Ashcroft was part of a birdwatching group visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site in February 2023. After deciding to return to their hotel while the rest of the group remained behind, he failed to arrive. His wife promptly reported him missing as soon as she realized he had not come back.
Within half an hour of his separation from the group, search efforts were initiated but yielded no results. Despite the involvement of sniffer dogs in combing through the thick jungle area, Ashcroft remained untraceable. Weeks later, Interpol issued a yellow notice with no leads coming in until the recent discovery.
The bones and clothing were found by residents from a nearby village, according to Soza, who mentioned that the site was difficult to reach due to dense foliage. Authorities are planning to conduct DNA testing to confirm the identity of the remains.
The vast national park has seen its fair share of missing persons cases, including a German man who perished from heatstroke in 2022 and a French family who was recently found safe after being lost for two days.
