A Puerto Rican man, Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez, 53, was found dead in his hotel room in Medellín, Colombia, on Monday 19 October 2026. Puerto Rican media report that it is being investigated as a homicide.
Puerto Ricans are US citizens, so the case concerns US readers directly. Puerto Rico’s government has said it is aware of the death.
The cause of death has not been established, and no arrests have been reported. An autopsy by Colombia’s forensic medicine institute is pending.
Key Facts
—Who. Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez, 53, a Puerto Rican technology consultant and US citizen who often visited Medellín.
—What. He was found dead in his hotel room. Media report a homicide investigation, and the cause of death is pending.
—Where. A hotel in Laureles, a district in western Medellín, Colombia.
—When. Found on Monday 19 October 2026, reportedly at about 9:00 local time.
—Status. No arrests reported. The autopsy is pending.
—As of 20 October 2026, 21:45 GMT
What We Know
Rodríguez Meléndez worked as a technology consultant and visited Medellín often. According to Infobae and Metro Puerto Rico, he arrived in the city on Friday 16 October 2026.
His body was found at about 9:00 local time on Monday 19 October, in a hotel in Laureles. A driver who regularly took him around raised the alarm.
The driver became worried because Rodríguez Meléndez had not answered his messages. He pressed hotel staff to open the room.
Reports say the room was in disorder and several personal belongings were missing. His body was in his room, and no external signs of violence were initially visible.
Colombia’s National Police confirmed that he was found dead in the hotel room. The CTI, the investigation unit of the prosecutor’s office, examined the scene.
Media reports say investigators are reviewing the hotel’s surveillance cameras. None of the reports we reviewed names a suspect or an arrest.
Media reports say he was last seen on Saturday evening, 17 October, at a meeting spot in the La 70 area, a dining and nightlife district. He reportedly returned to the hotel on Sunday morning, 18 October.
Local media say one preliminary hypothesis is a robbery in which the victim was given a substance, possibly scopolamine, known locally as “burundanga”. Authorities have not confirmed this, and the cause and manner of death depend on the autopsy.
Puerto Rico’s Department of State said it is aware of the death and has contacted Colombia’s consulate in Puerto Rico. Media reports add that it will act as a link with federal authorities.
Metro Puerto Rico reported on 20 October 2026 that no relative or close contact had yet approached the department for help. The report does not say whether the family has been reached by other means.
El Colombiano describes him as the fourth foreigner killed in the Aburrá Valley this year, and says at least 25 foreigners have died there in 2026 in various circumstances.
What Is Not Known
The cause of death has not been established. The autopsy by Medicina Legal, Colombia’s forensic medicine institute, is still pending.
Investigators have not publicly confirmed a motive or named a suspect. The scopolamine hypothesis remains preliminary and unconfirmed.
Reports disagree on the name of the hotel, so The Rio Times does not name it. They also disagree on the position of the body, which is why we say only that he was found in his room.
Reports disagree on when exactly his messages went unanswered and on whether his partner or the driver first raised concerns. The sequence of his final hours is therefore not yet established.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
Because Puerto Ricans are US citizens, media reports say the island’s government will act as a link with federal authorities. The case is being handled through both Colombian and Puerto Rican channels.
Local media mention a robbery involving a drugging substance as one line of inquiry. That is a hypothesis, and the autopsy will show whether it holds.
As a general point, travellers in any country can give their contact details to their embassy or consulate and keep them to hand. Nothing here is a finding about this case.
The Rio Times has covered other recent cases involving visitors, including an Australian stabbed in Medellín and the death of a Costa Rican at a festival in the city. Our guide to what to do in Medellín in October 2026 gives practical context for visitors.
The facts of this case should become clearer once the autopsy result is released. Until then, authorities have given no cause of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the Puerto Rican man found dead in Medellín?
He was Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez, 53, a Puerto Rican technology consultant and US citizen. He was found in his hotel room in Laureles, Medellín, on Monday 19 October 2026.
How did he die?
The cause of death has not been established. The autopsy by Medicina Legal is still pending.
Have any suspects been arrested?
No arrests have been reported in the coverage we reviewed. Media say investigators are reviewing the hotel’s surveillance cameras.
What has Puerto Rico’s government said?
Its Department of State said it is aware of the death and has contacted Colombia’s consulate in Puerto Rico. Media reports add that it will act as a link with federal authorities.