Mexican jockey, 23, and her friend who both vanished after attending his father's funeral are found dead in burned-out car, with one body in the trunk and another in the driver's seat

A 23-year-old jockey and her friend who vanished on the way to a funeral have been found dead inside a charred vehicle in central Mexico.

Karen Hervey Ruiz and Lorenzo Ríos had traveled together from her home in the central Mexican state of Queretaró to the town of Valle de Santiago in Guanajuato - the nation's deadliest state - on December 6.

They attended a funeral service for Ríos' father, a well-known horse breeder and owner who passed away two days earlier.

But the alarm was raised the pair vanished during the trip, and authorities discovered the burned out car and their bodies on Wednesday. 

The Guanajuato State Attorney General's Office said one of the bodies was located inside the rear trunk and the other was found on the driver's seat.

But officials could not say which body was in the trunk ahead of forensic tests, as the remains were burned beyond recognition.

Karen Hervey Ruiz's remains were found inside a burned car in Guanajuato, Mexico, on Wednesday. The 23-year-old, who had an affinity for horses, had traveled there December 6 from her home in the nearby central state of Queretaró for the funeral services of the father of her friend  Lorenzo Ríos. Ríos' body was also located in the vehicle

Lorenzo Ríos is one of the two victims whose bodies were found burned inside a car in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato on Wednesday

The Guanajuato State Attorney General's Office said one of the bodies was located inside the rear trunk and the other was found on the driver's seat, but could not confirm which was which pending identification

The pair had shared a fond for horse riding and charreada - Mexican rodeo. 

Guanajuato State Attorney General's Office said authorities discovered the missing pair in a car located on a dirt road near a farm.  

Forensic workers were awaiting DNA samples to confirm and match the bodies.

The state prosecutor's office and local authorities did not provide a motive for the murders.

Karen Hervey Ruiz disappeared December 6 in Guanajuato, Mexico

Lorenzo Ríos was reported missing December 6, just two days after his father, a horse breeder in Guanajuato, Mexico, had died

Guanajuato ranks as the deadliest states in Mexico, with 3,821 murders in the first 10 months of 2020.  

The state registered 362 murders during the month of October, an average of 11 a day. Homicide data for November have not been released.