Missing Cousins Found Buried in Shallow Grave in Hattieville

The search for missing cousins Juan Raymundo and Marvin Cante ended in heartbreak as their bodies were found buried in a shallow grave in Hattieville late Wednesday evening, near Dollar Bank Road. For two weeks, family, friends, and community members tirelessly searched for the men, but to no avail. Then, on Wednesday evening, the search took a devastating turn when two bodies were discovered, suspected to be the cousins. This afternoon, those suspicions were tragically confirmed. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s been over two weeks since thirty-two-year-old Juan Raymundo and thirty-seven-year-old Marvin Cante were reported missing by their families. On November twenty-eighth, their vehicle was found abandoned near mile twenty-four on the George Price Highway, with the engine still running. Despite a tireless search, today brought the devastating news that the family’s worst fears were realized—their bodies have been found.

 

On the phone: Elmer Cante, Brother of Deceased

“ The last text that I received from my cousin was at ten forty-nine that he sent a picture of my brother at a mechanic shop. But from there, I sent him a text message later on the day and they didn’t answer none of them. And we were calling and calling and then, I said, well, something is wrong.  until the following day i got in touch with police and they told us that they found his vehicle  on Mile twenty-four. We searched all over the places that we thought that they were there, but we didn’t get no results. You know the thing is that right now I didn’t have the words to express much to say.”

 

The bodies were discovered just after five p.m. on Wednesday, but it wasn’t until midday today that the family could confirm their identities.

 

On the phone: Elmer Cante

“I received a call from a news person. From there I received a call and then they told me that they had found two bodies. Confirmed that they were my brother and my cousin but were but the police no call until afterwards when I start to get some call from police officer that afterwards they have found two bodies and they were not sure if that was them.”

 

Given where the graves were found, the family feared the worst, suspecting they belonged to their missing loved ones. However, they held onto hope until their identities were officially confirmed.

 

On the phone: Elmer Cante

“We were there earlier this morning and then we went to the lab and there we recognized that yes, it’s my brother and my cousin.”

 

The circumstances of the men’s deaths remain a mystery. Amidst their heartbreak, the family is desperately seeking answers about what happened to Raymundo and Cante. Where were they headed, and who did they encounter?

 

On the phone: Elmer Cante

“That’s a good question. That’s a good question. Because I didn’t knew they were gonna meet someone. I didn’t have any idea.”

 

Police are investigating whether these murders were drug related. As far as the family is aware, the men were not known to be involved in illicit activities.

 

On the phone: Elmer Cante

“Not as I know. Because he always he run taxi and he was always there. So far as I know, I don’t believe it was that.”

 

Cante and his family are pleading to the public to turn over any information to the police that can lead to an arrest.

 

On the phone: Elmer Cante

“I’m gonna ask the public if they know something, then let me come forward so that we can get justice for my brother and my cousin.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.