A young woman who went missing after she went to meet an American for a Valentine’s Day date has been found dead and naked in the boot of her car after a three-day search.

Blonde Elizabeth Martinez Cigarroa, who was just 25, was found curled up in the boot of her own car in the city of Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja California at around 11am on Thursday, 17th February.

Her relatives reported that she had gone to a beachside hotel to meet an unidentified American man on 14th February. They did not hear from her after that, and reported her and her vehicle as missing.

Her 2010 white Jeep Liberty was found on the corner of Michoacan and Ninos Heroes streets in the city’s downtown area three days later.

Municipal Police officers and firemen arrived on the scene, opened the car and found the young woman’s body in the foetal position in the boot. She was reportedly naked and with visible traces of violence. She was later identified by her relatives.

At the time of reporting, the victim was believed to be the 24th woman in the city of Tijuana, which is part of the San Diego-Tijuana transborder urban agglomeration, to have been murdered in 2022.

In some reports, her age was given as 26.

Her half-brother Eliel Rincon Cigarroa took to Facebook to write: “Just to inform you that my sister has been found, unfortunately she was found dead. I thank all those who shared the message and who showed their concern. Thank you for your support.”

The State Attorney General’s Office is reportedly investigating the case, but not further details have been made available at this time.