Officials say they have identified two suspects who are on the run following the murder of a Canadian couple in Mexico.
Jalisco Attorney General Luis Carlos Najera told CTV News on Tuesday that police have interviewed the families of the two suspects and believe they could be hiding out with friends.
"We have a couple of suspects we are looking to find," Najera said in a telephone interview from Mexico.
Edward Kular, 84, and Nina Discombe, 72, were found dead Sunday in their home in the lakeside town of Ajijic, a community well-known among Canadian snowbirds and expats.
Police told local reporters that the door of the couple's home was left ajar and that it was ransacked -- household items, money and jewellery were possibly stolen. The couple's two vehicles, with Ontario licence plates, were also missing.
On Tuesday, Najera said the couple's van was found about 40 kilometres from their home, but none of the stolen items were found inside.
Najera said the van was taken to Guadalajara, where forensic officers can examine it.
He said police believe the suspects may have been known to Kular and Discombe, which could be a motive behind the murders.
"Maybe they were afraid they (the Canadians) can identify them to the police," Najera said.
He said forensic tests have determined that Kular and Discombe died at approximately 2 a.m. on Sunday morning.
The couple, who were close friends and partners, spent their winters together in Mexico. During the remainder of the year, Discombe, a writer and an author, lived in Quebec, while Kular lived in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto.
Discombe had spent his winters in Mexico for the last 35 years and recently purchased a house in Ajijic.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development said officials are providing assistance to family members and are in contact with local authorities.
A community meeting with the residents of Ajijic has been scheduled by the state attorney general.
With files from CTV Toronto's Zuraidah Alman
