Travel Advice For Americans as Women Found Murdered in Puerto Vallarta
Three women have been found dead in the popular Mexican tourist hotspot Puerto Vallarta this month, sparking concerns that there could be a serial killer on the loose. The U.S. State Department has shared travel advice for Americans visiting the region as local authorities continue to investigate the case.
A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek that the travel advisory for Mexico “remains at a Level 2,” while the State of Jalisco, including the area of Puerto Vallarta, “remains at Level 3.”
The department therefore advises that Americans “reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping,” and also encourages all Americans traveling or living overseas to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) to receive important safety and security updates, and to make it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact them in an emergency or during a crisis.
The spokesperson added 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,” and that the Trump administration has “no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans.”
Three Women Found Dead in Puerto Vallarta: What We Know
The first woman was found dead hear a well-known viewpoint, Rancho El Piruli on May 10, and the second was found dead along a highway several days later. The third woman was found in the Parque Las Palmas neighborhood.
While the identities of the women has not yet been confirmed by police, local reports have suggested that the third woman could be missing 22-year-old Elizabeth Martinez.
Other reports have also said that another woman, Yuzary Zepeda de Jesus, a 21-year-old woman, went missing in the Las Palmas neighborhood, and was last seen on April 25.
This is a developing story. More to follow…
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 3:50 AM.