Valley lawmakers urged the Mexican government to step up their efforts in locating the McAllen man that was attacked by Mexican pirates on Falcon Lake, even asking for involvment from U.S. law enforcement.
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, who represents the area where the incident happened, issued a statement Tuesday morning.
In it, he expressed his sympathies for the family of David Hartley, with whom he spoke earlier that morning.
Cuellar said the U.S. Government has asked to help assist Mexican authorities in locating Hartley’s body.
“The U.S. Consulate General has requested authorization for U.S. law enforcement to assist in the search, but we are still awaiting the Mexican response. I have contacted the Mexican Embassy and urged them to move the case quickly,” he said.
In the meantime, local state Representative Aaron Peña sent a letter to the Mexican Consul in McAllen.
He requested that “resources of the Mexican federal government or the military be made available to undertake the recovery effort.”
Hartley and his wife Tiffany Hartley were apparently sightseeing on Thursday on their jet skis near Old Guerrero when they were attacked by Mexican pirates, 29-year-old Tiffany said.
She was able to get away and ask for help in Zapata, on the American side.
David Hartley is presumed dead, but his body has not been recovered.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT