Los Angeles, Sep 25 (IANS): Juan Manuel Gomez Fernandez and Juan Manuel Gomez Monteverde, the father and brother of American actress Ali Landry's husband Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, were found dead over the weekend in Veracruz, Mexico, after being held hostage for 16 days.

The two were reportedly kidnapped outside their house in Tamaulipas on September 4. They were later discovered with severe head wounds in the remote town of Pueblo Viejo.

According to Televisa media company, the kidnappers did not release them although a ransom had been paid, reports acehshowbiz.com.

Landry, a former Miss USA who has starred in films like "Who's Your Daddy?", "Bella" and "Crescendo I", and her filmmaker husband spread the ashes of the deceased off the coast of Tampico, Mexico, on Wednesday.

A mass in honour of the two men will be held in a church here on Friday.

The family hasn't issued a statement about their loss, but Eduardo Verastegui, the producer who worked with Monteverde on the film "Little Boy", expressed his heartfelt condolences on Twitter.

"With a heartful of pain and sadness, I ask for prayers for my friend and 'compadre' Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and all his family," his tweet read in English.

"My deepest condolences to my soul brother, I love you so much 'compadre,' I put my heart in your hands and I join you in this deep pain," he added.