US3 min(s) read
Published 13:46 26 May 2026 GMT
It has been reported that a serial killer may be on the loose in a popular tourist town in Mexico, weeks ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Officials have been warned of the murders of three women, as police have been gathering evidence and observing surveillance footage as they search for connections between the deaths, which took place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The first female victim was discovered on May 10, near a well-known viewpoint known as Rancho El Piruli, in Chimborazo.
Within five days of this discovery, the second body would be found at a roadside stop along a highway.
Later, the third and latest body was found on a dirt road located in the Parque Las Palmas neighbourhood.
All three women were in their early-to-mid thirties, and all of them had tattoos.
The victims' bodies were discovered in isolated areas of the town, and all three of them were partially undressed.
None of the women have been identified thus far.
The third body was found with tattoos around her neck, hand, and forearm, featuring some distinctive designs.
This included a skull, a woman with horns covering her mouth, and a woman's name, all of which could help to identify the victim.
Her body also showed signs of violence, according to Mexico News Daily.
The fact that all the victims were partially undressed and inked up had led investigators to explore the possibility that the killings were following a pattern.
Reports on social media suggest that the latest victim could be missing 22-year-old Elizabeth Martinez, though these remain unconfirmed.
Martinez, a Mexican national, had vanished in April, and authorities noticed that some of her tattoos match the ink on the victim, a missing person report detailed.
The investigation is still ongoing, as police have also looked at the possibility of these bodies being transported to Puerto Vallarta after being murdered in different locations.
The murders of the three women pile onto the tourist town's problems, as just months ago, there was an outburst of cartel violence.
This was primarily caused by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, who set buses on fire and looted shops after they found out about the death of their leader, El Mencho, following a military operation.
Tourists could be seen fleeing through Guadalajara airport, as cartel members made their way through the building while firing off shots.
Gangs formed roadblocks, shutting down the city in protest of El Mencho's death, as some even set cars alight, causing thick clouds of smoke to cover the sky.
Due to this, many have feared for the safety of football fans ahead of the World Cup, though Mexico stated that almost 100,000 police, soldiers, and guards will be deployed to protect soccer fans.
The tournament, which kicks off on June 11, will have games hosted in three stadiums in the North American nation - one in Mexico City, one in Monterrey, and one in Guadalajara.
