For ads-free news, click here.
In 2024, several American tourists became victims of violent crimes while vacationing abroad, as reported by the New York Post in a piece about the potential dangers of international travel.
In Tulum, Mexico, 44-year-old Los Angeles resident Niko Honarbakhsh was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a gang-related shootout amidst the region’s ongoing issues with drug-related violence. Similarly, in Michoacán, Mexico, California couple Gloria Ambriz and Rafael Cardona were shot and killed while visiting family. This tragic incident occurred in a region the U.S. State Department has designated as a “do not travel” area due to high crime rates.
Additionally, two Oklahoma State University students reported being drugged at a Cancun resort pool bar in Mexico, turning their vacation into a near-fatal ordeal. The incident was evidential proof that even staying on resort grounds isn’t a guarantee of safety from the tourist violence in Mexico.
Then in Europe, 31-year-old Oregon nurse practitioner Mackenzie Michalski was murdered in Budapest, Hungary, by a man she met at a nightclub. The suspect allegedly killed Michalski during an intimate encounter and later attempted to conceal her body.
In November, a 60-year-old American tourist was found beaten to death at the luxury hotel in Laois, Ireland, according to Garda Síochána. Irish police arrested a 30-year-old American man in connection with the assault on the victim, who was reportedly traveling with him, according to The Irish Times. The five-star Ballyfin Demesne Hotel, known for hosting celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and George Clooney, was the site of the incident.
These incidents are stark reminders of the dangers of traveling internationally. Travelers should heed travel advisories from the U.S. State Department, which provides regular updates to the travel advisories to inform citizens of potential risks in the regions.
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
