Popular Resort Near Los Cabos Shuts Down After Deaths Of Two Americans

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Last Updated 1 year ago

A popular resort near Los Cabos has shut down after the unfortunate deaths of two American citizens.

The resort, which is owned by hotel industry giants Hyatt, went into a temporary state of closure days after the deaths in order to allow the authorities to properly conduct their investigations into the matter.

Guests who had reservations to stay at the luxury resort have been contacted by Hyatt personnel.

While the deaths of American citizens in Mexico are rare, such occurrences are well reported on both at home and internationally and often lead to some travelers having second thoughts about their vacations, despite Mexico being the most popular destination for travelers from the North American region for several years now.

Here’s everything we know about this unfortunate story so far, including what was believed to have caused the deaths of the two American travelers, the situation regarding the resort closure unfolding at the hotel, and why Mexico should still be seen as a safe option for North American travelers looking to go abroad.

American Travelers Found Dead – What Travelers Should Know

The two American travelers were found dead in the luxury resort Rancho Pescadero, a boutique hotel on the beachfront in El Pescadero, between the towns of Todos Santos and Cabo San Lucas.

The deaths of the travelers were discovered following a routine visit by housekeeping, who grew concerned after not hearing a reply despite knocking on the door. After hotel staff managed to gain entry to the room, the bodies of John Heathco (41) and Abby Lutz (28) were found on the floor, unconscious.

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The two travelers are suspected of dying of gas inhalation. This cause of death is not unheard of in the country, with poisoning by carbon monoxide or other gases – caused by improperly fitted or leaky vents – known to have killed other travelers in the past.

The most recent example was last year when three American travelers tragically lost their lives as a result of carbon monoxide gas inhalation at a rented apartment in Mexico City.

According to comments from the family of Abby Lutz, the two had shown symptoms prior to their deaths. “Abby and her boyfriend thought they had food poisoning and went to the hospital to get treatment,” the family said.

Just a few days later, however, the two passed away in their sleep. As a result of the deaths and the ongoing investigation, Hyatt’s Rancho Pescadero has temporarily closed in order to allow a full investigation into the deaths of the two travelers.

Rancho Pescadero Closes – What Travelers Should Know

The bodies of Abby Lutz and John Heathco were discovered on June 13th. Rancho Pescadero temporarily shuttered its doors to the public from June 18th, with the hotel set to remain closed until the investigation into the two deaths is complete. A spokesperson said:

“On behalf of the entire Rancho Pescadero team, we are deeply saddened by this tragedy and committed to caring for all those affected with understanding and compassion.”

“Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of guests and colleagues, and the property will not resume normal operations until our investigation is complete. Local authorities have not yet released the findings of their ongoing investigation, which Hyatt and the hotel’s owners continue to fully cooperate with.”

Guests with reservations at the hotel have been contacted, with some offered the alternative of staying at Cape Hotel, a Hyatt property located in nearby Cabo San Lucas.

Despite these two deaths being extremely tragic, it is worth reiterating that Mexico is still a safe place for travelers.

In particular, Cabo San Lucas has been working diligently to ensure it is safer than ever for travelers, taking steps such as adding more officials to its beaches and cracking down on illicit activities in the region’s pharmacies.