A Mexican politician has raised the alarm regarding the potential presence of a serial killer targeting women in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, and possibly extending beyond its boundaries.
The death toll in Jalisco has reached seven women, with a disturbing detail linking at least two or three cases: their blouses were nearly removed.
Yussara Canales, a state legislator for Puerto Vallarta’s 5th district, shared with The Post on Thursday that findings from the Jalisco State Attorney General’s office indicate a worrying pattern.
Canales suspects that authorities may be downplaying the situation to safeguard the tourist-friendly image of the city, especially with the World Cup approaching. Puerto Vallarta, a destination popularized by the 1970s and ’80s TV series “The Love Boat,” is only a short flight away from Guadalajara, which will host four World Cup matches in June.
“This common factor seems to be present in the recent femicides,” Canales remarked during a legislative session break. “It was this particular detail that first raised suspicions of a serial killer.”
Two unidentified women were discovered dead within days of each other. One woman, wearing a blue blouse and estimated to be around 30 years old, was found on May 10 on Victor Itiburde Avenue near the El Pirulí ranch, lying on her back with cuts on her wrists.
Five days later, a woman in a black blouse — aged 35 to 40 — was found dead near the upscale, 4.5-star Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta resort, showing signs of a blow to the head and having been dead for several hours. Neither woman has been identified.
“In every instance, the victims’ blouses had been pulled up,” Canales said. “In two — possibly three — of the cases, their blouses were found in this raised position.”
Despite the purported pattern, the state prosecutor’s office concluded Wednesday there was no link between those killings and the death of Elizabeth Galindo, 25, who was reported missing from the State of Mexico on April 29 and found dead May 21 in Puerto Vallarta with multiple signs of violence and bruising on her face.
Canales isn’t buying it. She thinks she knows why officials are so quick to dismiss a serial killer theory.
“Let me tell you why I think they did it: because, sadly, this news is making international headlines. It is leaving our port city in a very bad light,” she said.
“Perhaps this is the attorney general’s office’s way of trying to counteract all the negative notoriety our municipality is currently receiving.”
Five women were murdered in Puerto Vallarta in the first five months of 2026, compared to just three homicides of women in all of last year.
Other murders this year include: a 73-year-old woman was stabbed to death inside her home January 20 by her 47-year-old son, who then killed himself.
The body of missing Kitzia Montes, 29, was found March 31 on the side of a highway in the municipality of Autlán de Navarro.
On April 23, a 50-year-old woman was gunned down in broad daylight while riding her motorcycle.
And on Tuesday, Dr. Dalia Cortés, 43, was found stabbed to death inside her home in Zapotiltic by her 13-year-old son. She was allegedly killed by a former boyfriend who was arrested Friday.
“I do believe this is something that puts us very much on alert — something that compels us women to be far more cautious and, sadly, to live in fear,” Canales said.
