Abducted Ex-Economic Minister Found Dead

A former Honduran economic minister who was kidnapped two weeks ago was found dead, police said, even though his family reportedly paid $125,000 in ransom.

The body of Reginaldo Panting, 71, was discovered along an isolated street in San Pedro Sula, the largest city in northern Honduras. Harry Panting identified the body of his father, who had a nylon rope tied around his neck and his hands bound behind his back.

The body was near the area where police said a friend of the family, a priest, had turned over the $125,000 ransom.

Panting, who left his economy post in 1997, was kidnapped May 18 as he was driving to his house outside San Pedro Sula.