A well-known journalist who had been adducted near his home on Wednesday was found dead on Thursday, the Prosecutor's Office of Sinaloa state in north-western Mexico reported.
Luis Enrique Ramírez, 59, was the ninth journalist killed this year in Mexico, one of the most dangerous countries in the world for the press.
Ramírez, who had 40 years of experience, was a political columnist for the key Sinaloa newspaper El Debate and the founder of the news portal Fuentes Fidedignas.
He also worked for national media and published two books: one about interviews and the other about the Mexican writer Elena Garro. During his career he received a dozen journalism awards.
His body appeared on the side of a dirt road near the city of Culiacán. It was inside a plastic bag, according to local media.
"The attorney general of Sinaloa, Sara Quiñónez, tweeted condolences to his family and asserted a commitment to solve the murder.
Sinaloa cartel
Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha also lamented the murder, calling Ramírez a friend and noting that he had requested an immediate and exhaustive investigation from the prosecutor's office.
Ramírez had left his house on foot on Wednesday night for a business meeting. According to the weekly Riodoce, he argued with armed men when he arrived at the venue, who dragged him off for unknown reasons.
Sinaloa state is the birthplace of the drug cartel of the same name, which was headed by powerful drug trafficker Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán. He is currently serving a life sentence in the United States.
