Officials identify body found near Raymondville

Valley Morning Star

RAYMONDVILLE - Authorities on Thursday returned the body of a Mexican national they believe died after crossing the border, Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said.

The body of Arturo Beltran Hernandez, 49, was returned to his family a week after a tip led U.S. Border Patrol agents to recover his body near Rio Beef Road, about 8.6 miles north of State Highway 186, Spence said.

Investigators believe smugglers left the man after he suffered a heart attack May 15, Spence said.

"The gentleman apparently suffered a heart attack and rather than tend to him, they dumped him," Spence said.

A woman's call to the Sheriff's Department led authorities to the body, Spence said. She told officials the man had suffered a heart attack, Spence said.

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