San Salvador, El Salvador (CNN) -- A third migrant survived a massacre that left 72 dead in a Mexican border state, and could play a key role in authorities' investigation of the crime, El Salvador's president said. "He is already in the United States and fortunately avoided being killed," President Mauricio Funes told reporters Sunday as the remains of 11 Salvadorans who were killed in last month's massacre were returned to their families in a somber ceremony. A man from Ecuador, Luis Freddy Lala Pomavilla, was originally thought to be the only survivor. Lala was wounded in the attack and told authorities he played dead to fool his captors,
@highlight
The third survivor, who is from El Salvador, is now in the United States
@highlight
Salvadoran president says his testimony could help authorities crack the case
@highlight
Authorities are still identifying the remains of the 72 migrants killed
In El Salvador, authorities have started an investigation to identify who were the @placeholder' guides as they headed north through Mexico.