MEDINA COUNTY, Texas – The bodies of a woman and her ex-boyfriend, who police said kidnapped her, were found in the Pearson area, just outside of Devine, according to Devine Police Chief Kandy Benavides.
The Devine Police Department confirmed the bodies were those of Jessica Sanchez, 37, and Jorge Jaramillo, 48, who allegedly took Sanchez from her home in front of her daughters at gunpoint on June 30.
The bodies were found around 3 p.m. Tuesday on private property near the 6000 block of County Road 4514.
"They've been laying here for nine days," said Gary Mangold, the owner of the property where the bodies were found.
The spot where Mangold said Devine police traced Sanchez's car on Sunday is about 100 yards away from where Mangold said he found the bodies, which were behind a cattle fence line.
"Within 50 yards of where my mother lives over here and no one knew it," Mangold said.
Mangold said police never went behind the fence line where he found the bodies. He said he normally would never go into that area of his property, which is covered with trees and brush, but he happened to stumble upon the area on Tuesday.
"It’s just closure for the family now, and that’s good. At least they know. Not knowing is a terrible thing," Mangold said.
The cause of death of both individuals has not been confirmed by authorities.
Sanchez's sister, Blasa Carrillo, said Sanchez had been with Jaramillo for several years until, on Memorial Day, he held a knife to Sanchez's throat. Police said Jaramillo was arrested for aggravated assault and they acquired a magistrate's emergency order of protection.
Police have not released a motive for why Jaramillo allegedly kidnapped Sanchez.