The recent spike in violent deaths among foreign tourists in Medellin has raised serious concerns. In the current year, a tourist has died every six days on average, compared to one every ten days in 2023.
The latest incident occurred on Thursday morning when Matthew Watson Croulet, a 25-year-old American, was found dead in his hotel room in El Poblado. According to police reports, Watson appeared disoriented and only remembered his accommodation location. Hotel staff, noticing his distressed state, called an ambulance, but he was found dead in his room at 9:25 AM. The cause of death is yet to be determined by the authorities.
This tragic case adds to a growing list of fatalities. The district attorney’s office reported 37 violent deaths of foreigners in Medellin last year. However, with 29 violent deaths already recorded this year from 359,000 visitors, the trend suggests more than one death per week, potentially totaling 61 by year-end.