Puerto Vallarta Investigates Deaths of Three Women as Jalisco Prepares for World Cup Matches

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco — Authorities in Puerto Vallarta are investigating the deaths of three women whose bodies were found in different parts of the municipality over an 11-day period, a case that has drawn national and international attention as Jalisco prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The discoveries have led to public speculation about whether the killings could be connected. However, prosecutors have urged caution, saying preliminary evidence does not yet confirm a link among the cases. Investigators are reviewing evidence, surveillance footage and reports, and are also examining whether the women may have been killed elsewhere before their bodies were left in Puerto Vallarta.

According to media reports citing local authorities, the three women were found between May 10 and May 21. One body was discovered near Rancho El Pirulí, another along the highway near Mismaloya and a third in the Parque Las Palmas area. Reports said the women were found partially undressed and had tattoos, similarities that contributed to public concern. At least one of the bodies showed signs of violence. One victim has been reported by some outlets as possibly being Elizabeth Martínez, a 22-year-old woman who had been reported missing, but that identification had not been officially confirmed in the initial reports.

Puerto Vallarta is one of Jalisco’s most important tourism destinations, known for its beaches, resorts, restaurants and large foreign visitor population. The case has raised concern not only because of the brutality of the discoveries, but because the city’s image is closely tied to tourism and perceptions of safety.

The investigation comes at a sensitive moment for Jalisco. Guadalajara, the state capital, is one of Mexico’s three host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with Mexico City and Monterrey. FIFA lists four matches at Guadalajara Stadium, including a group-stage match involving Mexico and Korea Republic.

The World Cup connection has placed added attention on security in the state, though Puerto Vallarta is several hours from Guadalajara and is not a match venue. Still, both cities are part of the same state, and major international events often intensify scrutiny of broader public safety conditions.

Jalisco has also been dealing with the fallout from organized crime violence linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG. In February, the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” during a security operation triggered a wave of violence and uncertainty over the cartel’s future power structure. Reports at the time described burned vehicles, roadblocks and disruptions across parts of the state.

More recent reporting from El País says Jalisco has seen a reduction in homicides following federal and state operations against CJNG leadership, with daily homicide averages falling between September 2024 and May 2026. Even so, the state remains one of Mexico’s most closely watched security hotspots because of the cartel’s influence, the scale of disappearances and repeated episodes of violence.

The U.S. State Department continues to advise travelers to reconsider travel to Jalisco due to crime and kidnapping. Its advisory notes that violent crime and gang activity occur in parts of the state, including the Guadalajara metropolitan area, though tourist areas such as Puerto Vallarta are not subject to the same movement restrictions applied to some higher-risk zones.

Jalisco is also central to Mexico’s missing persons crisis. Mexico has more than 130,000 people officially listed as missing or disappeared, and Jalisco has been repeatedly identified as one of the states with the highest number of cases. Reuters reported earlier this year that Mexico’s national registry included roughly 130,000 disappeared people, though authorities have begun reviewing records to determine whether some listed individuals may be alive.

For now, the Puerto Vallarta case remains under investigation. The similarities among the three deaths have generated alarm, but authorities have not confirmed a serial killer, nor have they ruled out other possibilities. The clearest facts are that three women were found dead in less than two weeks, their cases have intensified public concern, and investigators are under pressure to provide answers in a state already facing intense security scrutiny ahead of the World Cup.