The bodies of 2 Americans who were kidnapped in Mexico have been returned to the U.S.

Mexican soldiers are seen preparing for a search mission for the kidnapped U.S. citizens in Matamoros earlier this week. Two of the Americans were killed, and Mexican authorities returned their bodies to the U.S. on Thursday. (AP)

MATAMOROS, Mexico — The Mexican authorities returned the bodies of the two Americans killed in the border city of Matamoros.

After autopsies were conducted, security forces escorted the remains of Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown late Thursday evening to American authorities, who then drove them across the bridge to Brownsville, Texas.