A family vacation ended in tragedy when a Colombian family was found deceased in their hotel room on San Andrés Island, Colombia. The family had repeatedly requested a room change due to a persistent foul odor.
The deceased were identified as Tito Nelson Martínez Hernández, his wife Viviana Andrea Canro Zuluaga, and their four-year-old son Kevin Matías Martínez Canro. They were found on Friday morning, July 11, 2025, at the Portobelo Convention Hotel in San Andrés. The family had traveled from Bogotá to celebrate Father’s Day and Mother’s Day with Viviana’s parents, who were in a separate room.
Viviana’s father, Orlando Canro, discovered the bodies when he went to deliver coffee to their room. After receiving no response, he approached the hotel staff for assistance. Initially denied entry, he was later allowed access with a female employee. Inside, Viviana was found on the floor, while Tito and Kevin were on the bed. Orlando covered his daughter’s undressed body with a blanket.
“What I saw the moment I walked through that door was horrifying,” Orlando told local media. “I was the first one into the room, and I saw the scene of my daughter lying on the floor and Nelson and my baby lying on the bed.”
The family experienced issues with their room from the first night, with Viviana complaining about a strong odor and requesting a change. The hotel initially denied any odor and refused to relocate the family. Orlando stated that his daughter continued to request a different room until the incident occurred.
Audio messages Viviana sent to her daughter expressed dissatisfaction with hotel conditions, describing them as moldy and lacking basic amenities. The family had saved for over a year for this trip, which was intended as a gift for Orlando and his wife.
Colonel James Evelio Totena Girón of the San Andrés Police Department stated that preliminary autopsy results suggested “generic intoxication” as the cause of death, pending further pathology tests. Authorities ruled out foul play, focusing on potential poisoning through airborne or ingested toxins.
Orlando Canro noted the clothing removed from the victims retained a strong gas-like odor, which is being analyzed for traces of carbon monoxide or other gases to verify a possible gas leak. The hotel has issued statements offering condolences and confirming cooperation with the investigation.
Recently, it was revealed that the room might have been fumigated with chemicals by an external company, Livingston & Company, which has serviced the hotel since 2012.
Preliminary autopsy results for Kevin indicated no ingestion of foreign substances. The child began vomiting shortly after arriving at the hotel, as Viviana informed her daughter in Bogotá.
Confusion arose about the family’s hotel, with some reports suggesting a different location. However, reservation records confirmed their stay at the Portobelo Convention, while Viviana’s parents reserved at the adjacent Toné 2.
The case has gained national attention, with the National Prosecutor’s Office and Criminal Investigation Directorate leading the investigation. Authorities collected food samples and other evidence from the room.
Orlando Canro seeks answers and plans to take some of the victims’ belongings to Bogotá for independent analysis. The medical examiner’s office has sent additional samples to specialized laboratories as the investigation continues.