California man drugged and killed while traveling in Colombia: Family

The family of a California man has claimed he was killed in a “senseless crime” while traveling in Colombia.

Paul Nguyen, 27, from Orange County, was drugged, robbed, and killed while he was in Medellin, said his sister Amy.

According to ABC7, Nguyen met a woman on the social media dating app Tinder and went on a date with her on Wednesday, November 9.

Amy said her brother had last been seen leaving a bar with the woman on Thursday at about 2 a.m. She added Nguyen’s body was found on November 11.

A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek: “We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in Colombia.

“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, and are providing all appropriate assistance. Out of respect for the privacy of the family, we have no further comment at this time.”

Data from Colombia’s National Reference Center on Violence found there were 2,037 homicides in the South American country in the months of January and February 2022.

Amy told ABC7: “They took all his stuff and belongings. We know all his cards were swiped after 4 a.m.

“We believe there were multiple people involved and she (the woman on the date) was just there to lure him and set him up.”

She claimed Colombian officials suspect her brother was drugged and robbed and that no arrests had yet been made in connection with his death.

A GoFundMe page has since been set up to help Nguyen’s family pay for his body to be repatriated and funeral expenses. More than $35,000 has been raised within two days, smashing its original $15,000 goal.

Nguyen’s sister paid tribute to him saying: “Paul was my older brother who was always there to take care of me.

“He was there to support me through my ups and downs. He was my shoulder to cry on. I hope everyone who knew Paul stays strong.”

She concluded: “Paul deserves to be back home, surrounded by love, family, and friends.”

Newsweek has contacted Amy and the police in Medellin for comment.

In November 2021, a Washington woman was found dead in a Mexico hotel room while on vacation with her boyfriend, according to her family.

Sativa Transue, 28, from Milton, had been with her boyfriend in Cancun for the Thanksgiving holiday when she died.

Her sister MyKayla Bolieu said the case was a homicide. Transue’s boyfriend 31-year-old Taylor Allen was later arrested for murder.