Human remains uncovered in the Guatemalan jungle are believed to be that of Raymond Vincent Ashcroft, a US birdwatcher who disappeared nearly two and a half years ago, according to local authorities. The discovery was made near the Tikal archaeological site, approximately 14 kilometers away from where Ashcroft was last seen.
Accompanying the bones, officials also found a lilac shirt, sandals, and shorts that matched those worn by the 66-year-old at the time of his disappearance, as confirmed by Carlos Soza from the attorney-general's office. During February 2023, Ashcroft was part of a birdwatching group visiting the ancient Maya ruins in Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. He reportedly chose to return to their hotel, but never arrived.
His wife, who remained with the group to take photographs, quickly reported him missing once she noticed he hadn't returned to their accommodation. Search efforts began promptly, with responders dispatched just 30 minutes after Ashcroft split from the group. However, initial searches, including a deployment of sniffer dogs, yielded no results.
Weeks later, Interpol issued a yellow notice for Ashcroft, but there were no reported sightings or evidence of his belongings until now. Local villagers trip across the thick foliage recently unearthed the human remains along with Ashcroft's clothing. Mr. Soza informed a local radio station that a DNA test is now necessary to ascertain whether the remains truly belong to Ashcroft.
The Tikal National Park has become a site where tourists have gone missing over the years. In 2022, a German man died from heat stroke after getting lost, while a French family went missing in 2023 but was found safe after two days.
