Authorities in Colombia are searching for two women who were last seen walking out of an Airbnb, where a Chilean actor was found dead earlier this month.
Alex Araya arrived in Medellín on June 1 and went on a Tinder date with the women on June 6, his brother, Eduardo Araya, told Chilean news outlet La Tercera.
The 42-year-old entered the home with the suspects around 11:30 pm before they walked out two hours later.
A woman, who was hired to provide cleaning services, visited the home June 7 around noon and found him lying face down.
Eduardo Araya said the women took his brother’s credit cards and his cell phone, which they used to pay for Uber rides. The cards were also used to make purchases at a jewelry shop.
Alex Araya was found dead in his Airbnb in Medellín, Colombia, on June 7. The 42-year-old Chilean actor went on a Tinder date with two women, whom he invited back to the rental before they allegedly drugged and killed him, his family said
Noticias Caracol reported that the residence where the Chilean actor was found dead was not registered to operate as a rental
‘There are more people involved,’ he said. ‘They are part of a group that is dedicated to doing these types of things.’
Alex Araya’s body did not show signs of violence and is currently being held at the local morgue, where an autopsy is scheduled.
His family is certain that the women drugged him with ‘burundanga’ formally known as scopilamine.
The powdery sedative is widely used by criminals in drinks, leaving victims vulnerable to being robbed. Some individuals have died while other have recovered after receiving emergency medical assistance.
Noticias Caracol reported Tuesday that the residence, which Alex Araya rented for 11 days in the Medellín neighborhood Los Angeles, was not registered to operate as a rental.
Alex Araya is the 29th foreign visitor to die in Medellín this year, according to crime stats.
A 25-year-old American man was found dead in a hotel room in the neighborhood of El Poblado last Thursday.
U.S. Border Patrol agent Jaime Cisneros, 54, was found dead in his hotel in the neighborhood of Laureles on May 31. He was seen entering the hotel with a woman at midnight before she was spotted exiting the property at 4am.
Chilean actor Alex Araya is one of 29 foreigners who have died while vacationing in Medellín in 2024
Medellín law enforcement is searching for two women seen leaving the Airbnb of Alex Araya, the 42-year-old Chilean actor who was found dead June 7. His family said that he was drugged with ‘burundanga’ (scopilamine), a powdery sedative that is added to drinks and causes a person to lose their memory and fall unconscious
In January, the United States Embassy in Colombia warned travelers about the use of dating apps.
The advisory was issued after the deaths of eight Americans in Medellín between November 1 and December 31, 2023.
The embassy said that several of the deaths pointed to ‘possible drugging, robbery, and overdose and several involve the use of online dating applications.’
Visitors were advised that they should ‘strongly consider meeting only in public places and avoiding isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur.’
‘It is also recommended that if Americans decide to invite a person they met to a home or hotel, they speak to the ‘attendant/concierge beforehand and establish a policy as to what information your new visitor should provide before being authorized entry (photo of identification, etc.) and what process should be followed when your visitor departs,’ the mission said.
Tinder followed by issuing a safety advisory in January, recommending that users utilize extra caution when they decide to meet their dates.