Americans found dead in Mexico hotel: carbon monoxide likely

The family of Abby Lutz, one of two Americans found dead in a Mexico hotel room earlier this week, believe the couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Lutz and John Heathco were found unresponsive in a hotel room on Tuesday in the community of El Pescadero, located on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, according to the state attorney in Baja. An initial forensic examination indicated the couple died of “intoxication by a substance,” which authorities did not identify.

In a GoFundMe campaign for funeral costs, Lutz’s loved one reveals that police told them the couple may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper ventilation.

“Abby and her boyfriend thought they had food poisoning and went to the hospital to get treatment,” it reads. “We were told they were feeling much better.”

A short time later, the family received a phone call from the U.S. State Department, alerting them to the couples’ death.

“They just thought it was food poisoning,” Lutz’s stepmother, Racquel Lutz, told NBC News. “They had no idea. None of us thought about that. You know, because you can’t smell carbon monoxide.”

“It was just so senseless, and it could have been prevented,” she added.

In a statement to NBC, Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero, declined to speculate about a cause of death and instead referred questions on the matter to authorities.

“The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is always a top priority,” Gil said. “Local authorities confirmed there was no evidence of violence related to this isolated incident, and there is no threat to guests’ safety or wellbeing at this time.”