Paradise loved by Americans is rocked by serial killer investigation as three women are murdered weeks apart

Published: 19:24, 25 May 2026 | Updated: 19:28, 25 May 2026 A travel hotspot loved by American tourists has been plagued by fears of a possible serial killer after three women were found dead within 11 days.  Police in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, are probing possible links between the killings after the latest victim’s body was discovered Thursday morning, Mexico News Daily reported. On May 10, the first female victim was found near Rancho El Pirulí in Chimborazo. A second woman’s body was discovered five days later, at a roadside stop along the highway to Mismaloya.  The latest victim's body was uncovered in a dirt road in the Parque Las Palmas neighborhood. All three women are believed to have been between 30 and 35 years old and were found partially undressed in isolated areas, according to preliminary information.  Each victim had tattoos and has not yet been identified.  The similarities in the cases have prompted investigators to explore whether the killings follow a pattern and whether a single suspect may be responsible.  Aerial view of Mismaloya beach in Puerto Vallarta. The area of Mexico is a hotspot for American tourists Unconfirmed reports of the recent victim's identity emerged on social media, suggesting 22-year-old Elizabeth Martinez may be her identity Martinez has been missing since April  The most recent victim had identifiable tattoos that police believe may help with identification. The marks were located on her neck, hand, and arm, and consisted of a skull, a woman with horns, and a name. Her body also reportedly showed signs of violence, the outlet reported. Unconfirmed reports of the recent victim's identity emerged on social media, suggesting 22-year-old Elizabeth Martinez may be her identity. Martinez is from the State of México and was reported missing in April, and according to the State of Mexico’s Missing Persons Search Commission, her tattoos matched some of those found on the victim. Authorities in Jalisco have not officially confirmed the identity, but reports suggest relatives of a missing woman may travel to Puerto Vallarta on Friday to determine if she is their family member.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.