Midwest man, 35, found 'executed' in his tent in Puerto Rico shortly after texting friends to say he could hear eerie HOWLING sound outside

By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:43, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 15:50, 30 July 2026 A Midwest man has been killed execution-style during a camping trip in Puerto Rico, hours after he told friends he could hear a creepy 'howling' noise close to his tent.   Tyler Wilkin, 35, from Ohio, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Playa La Selva close to Luquillo on the northern edge of the Caribbean island on July 10.  Local police are yet to identify a suspect, leaving his heartbroken family and girlfriend, Iva Mo, scrambling for answers.  The last message Wilkin sent was on the night he died, telling a friend he could hear a man 'howling' outside his tent for the second night in a row, according to Mo. She told First Alert 6 that Wilkin texted the friend in the early hours of July 9 saying he could hear this eerie noise along with what sounded like fireworks.  The following night, he messaged the same friend just before 2am saying: 'The howler is back,' before adding 'oh, this guy is getting rowdy lol,' Mo said. Wilkin was found dead hours later, about five minutes from the campsite. Wilkin moved to Puerto Rico in January 2024, where Mo said he quickly became 'not just the glue of the community, but also the center of it'. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish, swim, hike and camp.  Tyler Wilkin, 35, from Ohio, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Playa La Selva close to Luquillo on the northern edge of the Caribbean island on July 10  Mo said in the days before his death, Wilkin had organized a group trip to a camping location popular with families where he had stayed before and always felt safe.  She dropped him off at the spot in Playa la Selva on July 8 so he could reserve the site ahead of the weekend.  Mo said Wilkin was kitted out with all of his gear, including a pocketknife and a machete.  They said goodbye and parted ways. This would be the last time she saw him.    Local police have been unable to give the family answers, saying only that they are investigating Wilkins' death.  The family has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for a private investigator. So far, the page has gained just over $25,400 of the $30,000 target.  'We lost Tyler far too soon, and the grief left behind is impossible to put into words,' the page reads.   'As his family and friends continue to navigate this heartbreaking loss, we are determined to do everything we can to seek the truth and ensure that Tyler receives the justice he deserves.'  Wilkin (pictured) moved to Puerto Rico in January 2024, where Mo said he quickly became 'not just the glue of the community, but also the center of it' The fundraiser added that they hope the investigator will 'help uncover answers and ensure that every possible avenue is explored.' 'Our hope is that, through this additional support, we can find clarity and honor Tyler's memory with the dedication and care he deserves,' the family added.  The page also remembered Wilkin, from Wilmington, close to Cincinnati, as someone who made the world 'brighter.' 'He was the friend who always showed up, the one who made ordinary moments feel like adventures, and the person you wanted beside you on a beach in Puerto Rico or riding shotgun with the music turned all the way up,' the tribute reads.  Mo also paid tribute to her beloved boyfriend while speaking with First Alert 6.  'He wasn't just a victim of a homicide,' she said. 'He was the love of my life. My best friend. Tyler deserved to come home.  'And he deserves some answers and our entire community deserves justice.'