The lifeless bodies of a mother and daughter have been found in the boot of a car near the US border after they went missing for three days.

Victims Nataly Lucio Ramirez, 39, and her daughter Cristina Monserrat Duenas Lucio, 14, were found dead in the boot of a car in Reynosa, in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, just across the Rio Grande from Hidalgo, Texas, on Saturday, 2nd September.

The two Mexican nationals had gone missing on Thursday, 31st August, with Nataly’s brother asking for help to locate them on social media.

Nataly’s brother, unnamed, reportedly posted: “We haven’t heard from you sister for two days and this hurts.

“I come to ask for your help to locate my sister Nataly Lucio Ramirez and my niece Cristina Monserrat Duenas Lucio who have disappeared since Thursday at 10 pm.

“She was last seen with Jesus Escalante (Daniel), we don’t really know your name, attached is a photo of him.

“Please help me locate them, their phones are turned off, they go directly to voicemail.”

He added: “They would never go out without warning, let alone turning off their mobile phones. Help me by sharing. I will not rest until I find them.”

Their lifeless bodies were eventually found after locals in the Piramides neighbourhood noticed a bad smell coming from the abandoned vehicle.

The authorities sent their bodies for autopsy.

The main suspect has been named only as a man named either Jesus or Daniel. It is currently unclear if he has been detained.

Local media reported that he quit his job shortly before the bodies were found.

Their investigation is ongoing.