Police in Puerto Rico say they have identified a “person of interest” in the execution-style killing of an Ohio man who was shot dead during a camping trip, hours after reporting a strange “howling” sound outside his tent.
Tyler Wilkin, 35, was discovered on July 10 at Playa La Selva near Luquillo, along the island’s northern coast, with a gunshot wound to the head.
Wilkin’s final message was sent the night he died, when he told a friend he had heard a man “howling” near his tent for the second consecutive night, his girlfriend, Iva Mo, told First Alert 6.
Nearly three weeks after the killing, the Puerto Rico Police Department announced that investigators had zeroed in on a person of interest in the case.
“What I can say is there is a person of interest,” Police Superintendent Joseph Gonzalez told El Nuevo Dia on Thursday.
“We know there aren’t many people in the area. It’s a bit complicated in terms of investigative leads. We can say that there are some leads.”
Authorities have said they are also coordinating with the FBI as they search for the person who shot Wilkin in what investigators have characterized as an “execution-style” killing.
“At this time, the San Juan Field Office (SJFO) is providing technical assistance to PRPD, but this case remains an ongoing local investigative matter,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
Tyler Wilkin, 35, from Ohio, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Playa La Selva on the northern edge of the Caribbean island on July 10
Wilkin disappeared in Playa La Selva, close to Luquillo in northern Puerto Rico
‘We will defer to PRPD for any statements or comments but encourage the local public to call in tips and information.’
Wilkin first told his friend about hearing creepy noises near his tent in the early hours of July 9, according to his girlfriend.
Mo said he sent a text message saying he could hear this eerie noise along with what sounded like fireworks.
The following night he messaged the same friend just before 2am, saying, ‘The howler is back,’ before adding, ‘Oh, this guy is getting rowdy lol,’ Mo said. Wilkin was found dead hours later, about five minutes from the campsite.
Wilkin moved to Puerto Rico in January 2024, where Mo said he quickly became ‘not just the glue of the community, but also the center of it.’
He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish, swim, hike and camp.
Mo said that in the days before his death Wilkin had organized a group trip to a camping location popular with families where he had stayed before and always felt safe.
She dropped him off at the spot in Playa la Selva on July 8 so he could reserve the site ahead of the weekend.
The Puerto Rico Police Department has announced they have identified a ‘person of interest’ in the case
Investigators said they are working with the FBI to find the suspect who shot Wilkin in what they described as an ‘execution-style’ killing
Mo said Wilkin was kitted out with all of his gear, including a pocket knife and a machete.
They said goodbye and parted ways. This would be the last time she saw him.
The family has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for a private investigator.
‘We lost Tyler far too soon, and the grief left behind is impossible to put into words,’ the page reads.
‘As his family and friends continue to navigate this heartbreaking loss, we are determined to do everything we can to seek the truth and ensure that Tyler receives the justice he deserves.’
The Daily Mail contacted the Puerto Rico Police for comment.
