Puerto Rico police have identified a person of interest in the shooting death of Tyler Wilkin, a 35-year-old Ohio native found dead on a beach on July 10. Police Superintendent Joseph González stated that the individual has a connection to the overnight slaying, which is being investigated as an execution-style killing. The FBI has joined local authorities in the search for the shooter.
Wilkin had been on a solo camping trip for two days at Playa la Selva, a remote beach in the northeast corner of the island. His body was discovered by a beachgoer around 6 a.m., approximately some distance from his campsite, where his tent and belongings were located. He sustained a single gunshot wound to the head.
Wilkin, who relocated to Puerto Rico in January 2024, had been communicating with friends via text message the night of his death. He reported hearing a "howler" near his campsite, describing the individual as setting off fireworks and "howling like a wolf." His final message, sent around midnight, indicated the person was becoming "rowdy."
His girlfriend, Iva Mo, who had dropped him off at the campground two days prior, became concerned when she did not receive Wilkin's usual morning text. Friends were scheduled to pick him up on the day his body was discovered.
Details regarding the person of interest have not been released. Police are reportedly facing challenges due to the secluded nature of the crime scene and the lack of witnesses who heard gunshots. The investigation is ongoing.