Fears serial killer on the loose as three women with disturbing similarities murdered in holiday hotspot
There are concerns that a serial killer could be operating in the popular holiday destination of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, after the bodies of three women of a similar profile were found within just 11 days of each other.
The resort gets millions of visitors every year, many of them Americans looking to travel south for a bit of sun and sea in another country, but three bodies of women being found in the same month has police looking into possible connections.
All three women whose bodies were found were described as being in their early to mid 30s and had tattoos, with them being partially undressed and dumped in isolated areas.
According to local outlets, all three bodies had severe injuries to their faces and bodies.
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The first woman was found on 10 May by police near Rancho El Pirulí in the Chimborazo area. On 15 May, the body of a second woman was found at a roadside stop.
A third body was found by a dirt road in the Parque Las Palmas neighbourhood on 21 May.
The third body had a distinctive tattoo of a woman with devil horns on the side of her neck, which police hope could help identify her.
The identities of the women have not been confirmed, but the New York Post reports that officials have said they may be the work of a serial killer, as police are reviewing the evidence for signs of a connection.
Police are also looking into the possibility that the women were murdered elsewhere and their bodies were transported to Puerto Vallarta.
The Prosecutor's Office has said it is not ruling out any lines of inquiry. Authorities are looking at forensic evidence and surveillance footage to work out if this is the work of a serial killer or if the crimes are unrelated.
Local outlet Tribuna de la Bahía reports that the mayor, Luis Munguía, has strongly condemned the violence and said the municipal government is set to launch 35 new units and hire 80 new police officers.
The town has been blighted by violence in recent months. In February, buses were burned and shops looted during a wave of cartel action done in revenge for the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervante, known commonly as 'El Mencho'.
He had been the boss of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel, and his death in an operation carried out with the support of US intel had sparked violent demonstrations.
Tourists were trapped in the beach resort as Puerto Vallarta was one of many places in Mexico targeted for violent revenge.
People were advised to remain indoors during the violence, which led to cartel members attacking Mexican security forces and erecting roadblocks.
Flights, football games and other events were cancelled as a result of the violence earlier this year, and the spate of May murders is a further blow to the resort's reputation.
US resident Katy Holloman told the New York Post she was stuck in Puerto Vallarta as she said: “We were told to shelter in place right now, we need to stay in the hotel, it was safer here, but it is not safe to travel to the airport.
"The road is closed due to the cartel. There’s no flights going out of the airport to the States. We’ve rescheduled them for tomorrow afternoon, really hoping we make it home.
“Just going to pray we make it home tomorrow. This is unprecedented here, the hotel staff have been saying this has never happened before."
Topics: Crime, World News
Joe Harker