A North Carolina teacher who went missing in Mexico was killed by a member of the drug cartel once led by the notorious Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, officials said.

Patrick Braxton-Andrew, 34, a Spanish teacher from Davidson, disappeared in the North American country on Oct. 28 after leaving his hotel in Urique to go for a walk. On Thursday, Mexican officials discovered his corpse on a local beach.

Investigators later determined a drug dealer, Jose Noriel Porfilo Gil, or one of his associates, murdered Braxton-Andrew the day of his disappearance, Javier Corral, the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, said in a Facebook post.

“Under the progress in the investigation, I can say that it was a cowardly and brutal murder, of a totally innocent person, a clean man whose misfortune was to cross his walk with this criminal,” read Corral’s post.

Gil is a member of the Sinaloa cartel, which El Chapo led prior to his capture in 2016, NBC News reported. The drug lord is currently on trial in Brooklyn federal court, facing a slew of drug trafficking charges.

Investigators did not reveal a motive for Braxton-Andrew’s killing but said that he did not purchase any drugs, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Relatives said that the discovery of Braxton-Andrew’s body gave them a “sense of relief.” His remains will be transported to North Carolina, they said.

“Patrick died doing what he loved—traveling and meeting people. Join us in celebrating his life as he would want us to do. We will always remember Patrick and his joy for life. We love you PBA,” the family said on a Facebook page dedicated to finding their son.

The Woodlawn School in Mooresville, where Braxton-Andrew taught, canceled classes on Friday to honor his memory.