Investigators in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, are working to determine whether a serial killer is responsible for the deaths of three women whose bodies were discovered in isolated areas around the popular resort city within 11 days.
The grim sequence began on May 10, when the first woman’s body was discovered near Rancho El Piruli, a well-known viewpoint in Chimborazo. Five days later, a second victim was found at a roadside stop along the highway to Mismaloya. The most recent discovery came on a morning shortly thereafter on a dirt road in the Parque Las Palmas neighborhood.
All three victims were women who appeared to be in their 20s to mid-30s. Each had distinctive tattoos, and all were found partially undressed in remote locations on the outskirts of one of Mexico’s most popular travel destinations.
The latest victim was found with tattoo markings around the neck, hand and arm — a skull, a woman with horns, and a name. Her body also reportedly showed signs of violence. Those distinctive markings have driven speculation on social media about her possible identity, though the apparent age discrepancy between the victim and some of the missing persons being discussed online has complicated efforts at identification.
Investigators suspect one of the women may be 22-year-old Elizabeth Martinez, a resident of the State of Mexico who went missing in late April.
A Disturbing Pattern Emerges
The similarities across the three cases — the victims’ ages, the tattoos, the partial undress, the remote dump sites — have pushed investigators to explore whether the killings follow a pattern and whether a single suspect may be responsible.
Police in Puerto Vallarta are reviewing surveillance footage, forensic evidence and witness reports as they hunt for links between the slayings, hoping to piece together the movements of both the victims and whoever left them in isolated areas at the city’s edge.
The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office has stated there is no evidence of a serial killer.
The investigation remains in its early stages. Detectives are also weighing the unsettling possibility that the women were murdered elsewhere and their bodies transported into Puerto Vallarta and dumped — a scenario that would expand the geographic scope of the case dramatically.
Tourism Haven Confronts Violence
The city closed out 2025 with more than six million tourists, the bulk of them from the United States, according to local reporting. Before the recent killings, Puerto Vallarta was synonymous with pristine Pacific beaches, all-inclusive resorts and a steady stream of American visitors. It was, by any measure, in the middle of a record tourism run.
That reputation has taken successive hits. In February, the broader region was rocked by an explosion of cartel violence after the death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader El Mencho in a military operation. Bloodthirsty members of the cartel burned buses, looted shops and erected hundreds of roadblocks in retaliation, effectively shutting down Guadalajara in a violent protest. Cars were set alight. Thick plumes of smoke gave the city the appearance of a war zone, witnesses said.
Terrifying footage captured tourists fleeing through the Guadalajara airport as armed cartel members stormed through the travel hub firing off shots. Thousands of tourists and locals bunkered down in homes and hotels as gunfire stretched on for hours. American tourists were stranded in the city as they witnessed the chaos unfold.
Warnings for Travelers
Industry insiders say the convergence of cartel unrest and a potential serial-murder case is forcing a recalibration for American travelers eyeing Mexico’s Pacific coast. Paul Tumpowsky, CEO for Fora Travel, urged visitors to maintain a heightened sense of awareness while being cautious about travel decisions.
Tumpowsky told the New York Post that travelers should think carefully about the appropriate amount of risk they are willing to take.
The timing could hardly be worse for Mexican officials. The country is gearing up to co-host the World Cup, with the tournament set to kick off June 11. Nearly 100,000 police, soldiers and guards will be deployed to protect fans across three Mexican stadiums — in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara — with the massive security footprint extending to fan zones, airports and transport hubs.
Whether the killings prove to be the work of a lone predator, a coordinated crew, or something tied to the broader criminal turbulence that has gripped Jalisco state remains an open question. What is clear is that a city that built its global brand on safety and sunshine is now contending with a far darker story — one that has only just begun to unfold publicly.