World3 min(s) read
Published 16:00 27 May 2026 GMT
Travel advice has been handed to U.S. nationals after it was reported that a serial killer may be on the loose in a popular Mexican tourist town.
Authorities had determined that there might be a serial killer on the loose in Mexico, after the discovery of three bodies in the same region.
They have continued to gather evidence, such as surveillance footage, as they search for any connections between the deaths of the women, whose bodies were all found in tourist hotspot Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Investigators say that these women were aged from their early-to-mid thirties.
These deaths have come just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are also hosting games.
Now, advice has been given to traveling Americans.
Americans looking to head to Mexico have been told to reconsider trips to a certain region south of the border.
As police continue to investigate the murder cases, a State Department spokesperson told Newsweek of the risks associated with the State of Jalisco, which includes Puerto Vallarta.
The risk level currently sits at a Level 3, which means that the government is advising travelers to "reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping."
The Department of State website further reads: "There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations.
"In Guadalajara, battles between criminal groups have happened in tourist areas. Shootings between these groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders.
"U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been kidnapped. There are no restrictions on travel in the Guadalajara Metropolitan area, Puerto Vallarta (including neighboring Riviera Nayarit), Chapala, and Ajijic," they explain.
The spokesperson also told the publication that the department "routinely updates our travel advisories and destination information pages for all countries based on a comprehensive review of all available safety information and ongoing developments."
They have also advised Americans to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrolment Program, in order to receive safety and security updates.
Puerto Vallarta is a popular tourist town, known for its beaches, nightlife and sunny weather, with approximately two million Americans visiting annually.
It makes the murder investigation a serious cause for concern on the eve of the FIFA World Cup.
The first female victim was found on May 10, near the well-known viewpoint of Rancho El Piruli, in Chimborazo.
The second victim's remains would be found just five days later, at a roadside stop along a highway, with the third body being uncovered on a dirt road in the Parque Las Palmas neighbourhood.
All the victims were found partially undressed, and all had tattoos, as police believe that this may indicate a pattern.
The bodies were found in isolated areas of the tourist town, but none of the women have been officially identified so far.
However, the third body discovered had tattoos around her neck, hand, and forearm.
These were some distinctive designs, including a skull, a woman with horns covering her mouth, and a woman's name, all of which could help identify the victim.
Local publication Mexico News Daily reports that her body showed signs of violence.
Reports suggest that the victim might be the missing 22-year-old Elizabeth Martinez, but these claims have not been confirmed yet.
Mexican national Martinez had mysteriously vanished in April, with authorities noticing that some of her ink matched that of the victim, according to a missing person report.
