Chilean actor Alex Araya found dead in Colombia after Tinder date with two women
A Chilean actor was found dead inside his Airbnb vacation rental in Colombia and his family is looking for answers after he was last seen alive with two women he met on Tinder.
The naked body of Alex Araya, 42, was discovered lying face down in bed inside the MedellÃn rental by a cleaner on June 7, according to the Chilean news publication La Tercera.
The actor’s family later learned of his death in the news and have been trying to piece together what happened since then, his brother Eduardo Araya told the outlet.
The night before he was found dead, Alex had met up with two women from the dating app Tinder, according to his brother.
Video captured Alex and both women entering the rental at around 11:30 p.m. on June 6. Two hours later, the two women walk out without him, according to the footage.
The pair allegedly left with his credit cards and phone, which they used to pay for Uber rides, gas station purchases, groceries and jewelry, Eduardo told the local outlet.
He’s convinced the women aren’t the only people involved in his brother’s untimely death and believes they are part of a larger gang targeting tourists.
“There are more people involved,” he said in Spanish. “They were part of a group dedicated to doing these things.”
Alex’s cause of death has not yet been released, but Eduardo believes he was drugged — possibly with burundanga, also known as scopolamine, an odorless, tasteless drug which can cause a person to lose consciousness for up to 24 hours or more. Larger doses, however, can be deadly.
He had no visible signs of trauma and his body was found in a similar condition to other tourists who have been killed in the area.
Alex is the 29th tourist to die in MedellÃn just this year.
The US State Department has issued a level three travel advisory for Colombia, recommending Americans reconsider traveling to the country amid frequent crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping.
Earlier this month, the department warned of an increase in reports of drug-involved robberies in which the suspects often use dating apps to find their newest victims.
“One of the most popular methods to target unsuspecting individuals is through online dating applications. Individuals match with dates and there is an agreement to meet,” the US Embassy in Bogota said. “This meeting can either initially start in a public place or at the residence/hotel of the victim. Eventually, a sedative is introduced to the victim, leaving them disoriented and sedated so they are easily robbed. “
The embassy warned of the same pattern in January after eight Americans died suspiciously in MedellÃn between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.
