An Ohio man vacationing in Puerto Rico was found shot to death in an execution-style killing while camping on a remote beach, according to reports. Tyler Wilkin, 35, who had moved to the island from Ohio in 2024, was discovered with a single gunshot wound to the back of his head on July 10.
Wilkin was camping at Playa La Selva, a secluded beach near Luquillo, when the incident occurred. Local media outlet TeleOnce reported the discovery of a body in the mangroves on the beach. Wilkin's girlfriend, Iva Mo, told FOX 19 Cincinnati that he had sent unsettling text messages to friends from his campsite shortly before his death.
According to Mo, Wilkin texted about hearing eerie howling sounds outside his tent, which he initially described as sounding like fireworks. In a subsequent message, he noted that the sounds were returning, and approximately two hours later, he texted that the individual was "getting rowdy lol."
Following the discovery of his death, Wilkin's loved ones initiated a fundraiser to finance the hiring of a private investigator. The fundraising page stated the family's determination to "leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of the truth" and cover any expenses related to the investigation. An obituary for Wilkin described him as someone who enjoyed outdoor activities like tennis, hiking, and rock climbing, and cherished spending time with friends, while also maintaining close ties to his family in Ohio.
Wilkin was born in Wilmington, Ohio, and is survived by his parents and four siblings. A friend, Trigger Ray, remembered Wilkin on Facebook as "an awesome guy and a great friend, incredibly intelligent with more opportunities ahead of him than most folks I’ve ever met."