Three women found buried in northern Mexico

SALTILLO, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- The burnt bodies of three women were discovered in a shallow grave in northern Mexico on Tuesday morning, prosecutors said. It is unknown if they are victims of Mexico's drug war, which has claimed thousands of lives.

Local agricultural workers who were walking toward 'Los Muchachos' lake discovered the grave when they found a body which had been partly buried near the San Juan del Retiro ranch in the municipality of Arteaga in the northern state of Coahuila.

The laborers reported the discovery to police, after which a team of police investigators, members of the Attorney General's Coroner Service, and a Public Ministry agent reached the scene, which is located near the kilometer 279 marker on federal highway 54 toward Zacatecas.

When examining the scene, the team found the grave was approximately 4 meters (13.1 feet) wide and held the bodies of three women. The victims, who are believed to be between the ages of 20 and 30, were half naked and their bodies showed signs of burns.

Authorities are continuing their investigation.