In response to a series of suspicious deaths of American citizens in Colombia, the US mission in Bogota recently issued a warning to its citizens against the potential risks of dating in the South American country. Eight deaths that occurred between November and December, involve circumstances indicative of involuntary drugging overdose or suspected homicides.
Last month, an American comedian was found dead with multiple stab wounds after he was kidnapped during a trip to Colombia. Tou Ger Xiong, 50, who hailed from the US state of Minnesota, was on vacation in the South American country when the incident happened. Jeff Hewett was discovered “lying deceased in a pool of blood” in his hotel room in Medellin. He was reportedly a victim of a “robbery gone bad.” Johny Jerome met his demise on his 45th birthday. Phillip Mullins, according to a BBC report, was drugged and succumbed to an overdose.
Online dating apps
While US authorities believe these incidents are not directly connected, several deaths point to potential motives of drugging, robbery, and overdose, with a link to the use of online dating applications. The victims, often targeted after meeting through dating apps, face increased threats of assault, robbery, and, in some cases, fatal violence. Violent deaths of foreign visitors, particularly US citizens, increased by 29 percent, according to the US embassy. Criminals are known to exploit dating apps to lure victims into public places like hotels, restaurants, and bars before carrying out robberies.
“According to the Tourism Observatory of the District Personnel of Medellin, the number of thefts committed against foreign visitors (excluding Venezuelans) increased 200 percent in the third trimester of 2023 compared to the previous year and violent deaths of foreign visitors increased 29 percent. Most of the 2023 violent death victims were U.S. citizens,” the US embassy said in a statement released this month.
‘Devil’s Breath’
It’s common for criminals to drug tourists with scopolamine, an odourless substance known as “Devil’s Breath,” according to Carlos Calle, the former director of the city’s tourism observatory. “There’s a negative profile of the tourist in the city that looks for a certain type of opportunities,” Calle was quoted as saying by BBC. “It’s usually related to sex work,” he said. In the wake of the rise in suspicious deaths, US citizens in Colombia have been strongly urged to exercise caution when using online dating apps.
- Be cautious if using online dating apps in Colombia.
- If meeting with a stranger, you should strongly consider meeting only in public places and avoiding isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur.
- If inviting an individual that you just met to your residence or hotel room, speak to your door attendant/concierge beforehand and establish a policy as to what information your new visitor should provide before being authorized entry (photo of identification, etc.) and what process should be followed when your visitor departs.
- Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including where you are going, details of the person you are meeting, and the app you used to meet them. Victims who are targeted via online dating applications tend to have their electronic devices stolen which often contain all evidence of communication with the assailants.
- Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Victims of crime who resist robbery are more likely to be killed.
- Trust your instincts – if something does not feel right, do not hesitate to walk away from a situation.
Record-breaking tourists
In 2022, Medellin welcomed a record-breaking 1.4 million tourists, with over a quarter being American visitors, according to data from the mayor’s office. This number is expected to be higher in 2023, with the influx attributed in part to Medellin’s popularity among remote workers.
Medellin’s city police declined to comment when posed questions by BBC about the recent surge in violent deaths, redirecting inquiries to the mayor’s office. Mayor Federico Gutierrez expressed a desire for increased foreign tourism but stressed that visitors seeking solely sex and drugs were unwelcome. The mayor instructed the police to address the related problem of sex trafficking of minors, initiating a special probe in key tourist areas.
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