Gabriel R. Trujillo, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, was murdered in Sonora, Mexico, while conducting field research investigating plants endemic to the region.
The murder of Gabriel R. Trujillo occurred on June 19, and according to his family and fiancée, the body was found several days after his disappearance.
A statement issued by UC Berkeley details that Gabriel Trujillo was a graduate student of that house of study, and that he was in Mexico doing field research.
“?He was assassinated last week in Sonora, Mexico. Local police authorities are investigating. This is heartbreaking news and campus officials have reached out to his family to offer support and assistance. Trujillo, a botanist, had a fourth-year doctorate. student of the Integrative Biology department. The campus received confirmation of his death on Friday, June 23.
The Sonora State Attorney General's Office reported that the young man's body was found on the stretch of road that leads from the town of San Nicolás to Tepoca, on June 22. While the car he drove from his home in Oakland to Sonora was found a few meters from his body.
«His body was located in a ravine by agents of the State Public Security Police ?PESP?, a few meters from the edge of the road, his BMW MPW wagon-type vehicle, five-door, black, 2009 model, with license plates of circulation in California, was found a few meters from the body, from which several indications were collected that are being analyzed by the forensic laboratories of the institution, "the Mexican authorities specified.
The autopsy revealed that Trujillo's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and that he had been dead for three to five days.
He added that Gabriel's body was analyzed by Expert Services and fully identified by his relatives to whom it was delivered.
Roxanne Cruz-de Hoyos, Trujillo's fiancée, opened a GoFundMe account asking for help to cover the cost of moving the body from Mexico to the United States.
Due to the international travel logistics required to bring Gabriel from Mexico to the US and due to the travel costs his family members will incur for his ceremonies in Michigan and California, we are requesting this amount to cover costs and help your family. in this harrowing time. Anything you can do to contribute or share is greatly appreciated."
So far, the family has raised more than $62,000.
The family also reported that two ceremonies will be held in his memory: one in Fenton, Michigan, from July 5 to 6 and another in the California Bay Area, without specifying a specific location yet. To both ceremonies all who wish will be welcome.
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