A Santa Barbara man is reportedly on remand after his two children were found murdered in Mexico.
According to the Baja California Attorney General, the bodies of the two children with multiple stab wounds were found on a ranch in the Rosarito area. It is believed that the murder weapon was a wooden stake.
According to the Mexican authorities, the suspect, identified only by his first and middle name as “Matthew Taylor”, 40, was arrested at the border while trying to return to the United States. Authorities in Mexico do not use last names to identify people.
The Baja California attorney general said the suspect was a surf instructor from Santa Barbara, California.
Santa Barbara police reported Tuesday that officials received a missing person report on Sunday from a woman who said her husband and two children had been missing for about 24 hours. Police said their investigation found evidence that the father and two children may have traveled to Mexico.
“Just shocked, to be honest. Immensely tragic,” said Evan Buell, a neighbor of the suspect. “I know the two children and the family, it’s just terrible. I really think I have run out of words. I’m just stunned.”
According to the police, the FBI is the lead investigative authority in the case.
The FBI released the following statement on Tuesday:
“The FBI is working with the Santa Barbara Police Department after receiving a report on three missing people; an adult man and his two children, believed to have crossed the southern border into Mexico, the FBI in Los Angeles and San Diego, the US Customs and Border Protection, and the Mexican authorities. The adult man is currently in federal custody and the investigation is ongoing. “
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