Danny Moloshok/Reuters
The nephew of Venezuelan-American fashion designer Carolina Herrera has been found dead in Venezuela after being abducted earlier this week, TMZ reports. Herrera's 34-year-old nephew, identified as Reinaldo, was taken from a restaurant in Caracas along with a business partner and held hostage on Thursday. Officials said an unspecified ransom amount was paid, but the kidnappers killed the men anyway. Carolina Herrera called attention to the country’s turbulent political situation in a statement on the murder released Saturday. “Our only hope is that the tragic assassination of our young nephew, Reinaldo and his colleague, Fabrizio will serve to mitigate the terrible carnage and murders that are committed against our youth in Venezuela,” Herrera said. “The Electoral Results must be respected. The Communist Dictatorship must go,” she said. Violent protests are now in their second month in cities across Venezuela, as demonstrators demand that President Nicolas Maduro step down.