Authorities have revealed the text messages between the two suspects believed to be involved in the abandoned truck that was discovered in Texas with dozens of dead bodies inside.
On Monday, emergency personnel discovered dozens of dead bodies in and around an abandoned 18-wheeler truck in San Antonio, Texas.
Per BBC news, after a nearby worker heard "cries for help" coming from inside the vehicle, law enforcement was dispatched to the scene. Authorities revealed that they found piles of dead bodies “hot to the touch” and those who had survived the journey were unconscious upon arrival.
City officials later disclosed that those on board were undocumented migrants who were being trafficked into the US from Mexico. However, as temperatures reached 103°F (39°C) in San Antonio, those onboard were struck down with "heat stroke and heat exhaustion".
The tragedy is being called the deadliest migrant-trafficking incident in modern US history after 53 people died as a result. BBC News reported that 11 people - including children - currently remain in hospital.
Now, new details have emerged about the two suspects. Police arrested Christian Martinez, 28, on Tuesday, on a trafficking charge involving death that could result in life in prison or the death penalty.
Martinez’s text messages with the semi-trucks alleged driver, 45-year-old Homero Zamorano Jr., who tried to disguise himself as a victim, were revealed in a criminal complaint acquired by The Daily Beast on Friday (July 1).
The complaint stated the first text came at 12:17PM on Monday when Martinez texted his alleged accomplice a photo of the semi-trucks "manifest".
Zamorano allegedly responded two minutes later, saying: "I go to the same spot".
After 30 minutes, the complaint said that Martinez replied by texting an address to Zamorano - 3108 Chacon Street in Laredo, Texas - which is an industrial area just three miles from the Mexican border. However, Zamorano didn’t respond.
This caused Martinez to become seemingly desperate as he sent his partner a chain of text messages that went unanswered.
The complaint also said that Martinez texted a shorthand version of "where you at bro?" at 1:40PM. Then, Martinez allegedly texted three more times at 3:18PM, saying: "Call me bro," "Yes," and "Call me bro".
The police officers have revealed that Martinez sent a final text at 6:17PM saying, "Wya?".
As Martinez texted the driver, authorities say Zamorano drove the truck through the Laredo checkpoint - where he was captured by security cameras - and headed for the rural end of San Antonio.
Some family members told the Associated Press that the 73 migrants who boarded the truck in or near Laredo on Monday had their phones seized.
Authorities say for unknown reasons Zamorano left the truck next to railroad tracks in San Antonio sometime around 6:00PM on Monday.
Zamorano now faces the same charge and potential sentence as Martinez for his role.
It has also been revealed that on Facebook, the two suspects are listed as friends. Martinez’s profile states that he worked at Walmart, while Zamorano’s page lists him as single and from Brownsville, Texas.
Our thoughts continue to go out to all of those affected by this tragedy.
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