Odessans slain

An Odessa father and son are part of the 400-plus body count this year in a Mexican border town.

The two Odessans were killed June 12 in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, across the Rio Grande from El Paso.

Oscar Gardea, 24, and Gerardo Gardea, 49, were found dead in a vehicle along with a third unidentified man, according to El Diario, a Juarez newspaper that is an Associated Press member.

The newspaper's website quoted the general suboffice of the judge advocate general of justice in the state of Chihuahua as saying the two Odessans were slain assassination-style.

An Odessa relative contacted Thursday said through an interpreter that the men had been killed, but she said she didn't feel comfortable discussing particulars of the deaths.

Services for both were Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Survivors for the elder Gardea include his wife, Ernestine Gardea of Odessa; son, Gerardo Gardea of Odessa, and daughters, Lissete Gardea and Udith Gardea, both of Odessa.

The younger Gardea is also survived by his wife, Myda Gardea of Odessa.