Skeleton found in Guatemala likely that of missing US birdwatcher

Human remains found near an archaeological site in the Guatemalan jungle are thought to be those of a US birdwatcher who was reported missing almost two and a half years ago, local officials say.

A lilac shirt, sandals and shorts which match those worn by Raymond Vincent Ashcroft the day of his disappearance were found at the same location where the human bones were discovered, Carlos Soza of the attorney-general’s office said.

Ashcroft, 66, was part of a birdwatching group visiting the ancient Maya city of Tikal, a Unesco World Heritage site, in February 2023.

At the time of his disappearance, his wife said that Mr Ashcroft had decided to return to the hotel but had never arrived.

She had stayed behind with the group, taking photos, and reported him missing as soon as she realised he had not arrived at their hotel room in the Tikal National Park, local media reported at the time.

Search parties were quickly sent out – just half an hour after Ashcroft had split from his group – but found no trace of the missing tourist.

Sniffer dogs were brought in to search the dense vegetation of the national park but to no avail.

Weeks after his disappearance, Interpol issued a yellow notice but no reports of any sightings were made and no trace of his belongings were found until this week.

Human bones and clothes matching those worn by Ashcroft were spotted in the jungle 14km from the archaeological site by residents of a nearby village, Mr Soza told a local radio station.

According to the official from the Guatemalan Attorney-General’s Office for Crimes Against Foreign Tourists, the remains lay within dense vegetation and could only be reached on foot.

He added that a DNA test would determine if the remains were those of Ashcroft.

Tourists have gone missing before and since in the vast national park.

In 2022, a 53-year-old German man became separated from his group and died from heat stroke.

And in 2023, a French family was found dehydrated but safe after being lost for two days.