Tyler Wilkin, 35, was reportedly found dead in what authorities are treating as an “execution-style” killing, with a gunshot wound to the back of his head during a camping trip at Playa La Selva in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico resident Jules Santiago told News Outlet that she had known Wilkin for about two years. Originally from Ohio, Wilkin relocated to the island in 2024.
Jules Santiago shared an image of herself with 35-year-old Tyler Wilkin during an evening out with friends. (Jules Santiago)
Santiago said the news left her stunned the moment she received the call.
“When I found out, I went into complete shock. My thoughts were paralyzed. I asked the same question three times just to make sure it was Tyler.”
According to reports, investigators located Wilkin on July 10 with a single gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Tyler Wilkin, 35, is seen posing with six friends during a night out. (Jules Santiago)
The FBI confirmed to News Outlet that it is assisting with the investigation. Puerto Rico police have also reportedly identified a person of interest in the homicide case, local outlet El Nuevo Día reported.
“I could never have imagined he would be murdered, that something like that could happen to him. The whole room went cold, the energy turned dark, and I started crying,” Santiago said.
Tyler Wilkin was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of the head, reports say, while he was on a camping trip in Puerto Rico. (Getty Images: Yuriy Turetskiy, Lilly Wright GoFundMe)
A fundraiser for an investigation into Wilkin’s death has generated tens of thousands as the mystery deepens.
Jules said, “You usually hear about homicides tied to drugs, or people who weren’t on the right path. Never someone full of life like Tyler.”
