Mexican authorities reported that two US citizens were found lifeless inside their room at a luxury hotel located on the Baja California Peninsula. According to ABC News, paramedics and police officers responded to the Rancho Pescadero hotel in the coastal community of El Pescadero after receiving reports that a man and a woman were unconscious.
The victims were identified as John Heathco, 41, and Abby Lutz, 22, according to the Baja California Sur Attorney General’s Office. Authorities detailed that the bodies showed no signs of violence. The cause of death was determined to be “intoxication by a substance to be determined,” according to the statement issued by the Attorney General’s Office.
Authorities confirmed that the victims had been deceased for approximately 10 to 11 hours when they were found. Based on previous cases of US tourists in Mexico, it is suspected that the cause of death could be related to gas inhalation. According to the New York Post, this has occurred in other incidents in previous years.
So far, the Hyatt hotel chain, which owns the Rancho Pescadero hotel, has not responded to requests for comment made by ABC News. The exact circumstances of the tragedy have not yet been fully clarified, and authorities continue to investigate the case to determine the substance involved in the poisoning and the circumstances that led to the deaths of Heathco and Lutz.
This tragic incident highlights the importance of safety and prevention in tourism, both for travelers, authorities, and establishment owners. The case also underscores the need for close collaboration between Mexican and US authorities to investigate and address these types of incidents in order to ensure the safety and peace of mind of tourists in both countries.