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Kidnapped priest in Mexico found dead

A view of the seminary in Ciudad Altamirano, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014. Rev. Gregorio Lopez Gorostieta disappeared after he was apparently kidnapped from this local seminary on Monday. His pickup truck was found later, abandoned, and the church has filed a crime report with police, though the motive remains unclear. Dozens of Roman Catholic priests and religious workers marched through this southern Mexico city on Wednesday to protest the latest in a series of kidnappings, killings and robberies of priests. (AP Photo/Christian Palma) A view of the seminary in Ciudad Altamirano, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014. Rev. Gregorio Lopez Gorostieta disappeared after he was apparently kidnapped from this local seminary on Monday. His pickup truck was found later, abandoned, and the church has filed a crime report with police, though the motive remains unclear. Dozens of Roman Catholic priests and religious workers marched through this southern Mexico city on Wednesday to protest the latest in a series of kidnappings, killings and robberies of priests. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)

By Associated Press December 26, 2014 1 min read

MEXICO CITY (AP) – A third priest has been killed in the “hot lands” region of Mexico’s southern Guerrero state.

The bishop of the diocese in Ciudad Altamirano said Friday that the Rev. Gregorio Lopez Gorostieta was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head near a highway on Christmas Day.

Lopez Gorostieta disappeared on Monday from the seminary in the city where he taught. His truck was later found abandoned near the seminary.

Many other priests have been robbed or briefly abducted in the region, which is dominated by drug cartels.

Bishop Maximino Martinez said the diocese is calling on authorities to investigate the killers and bring them to justice.