A FRIEND of an American who was killed on a beach in Puerto Rico painfully recalled the paralyzing moment she learned about his execution-style murder.
Tyler Wilkin‘s magnetic energy and upbeat persona were what drew friends like Julie Santiago to the 35-year-old Ohio native, who in January 2024 relocated to San Juan, the island’s capital.
“He loved the island. He fell in love with the people. He fell in love with nature. He fell in love with the beach, the mountains, like everything around the island,” Santiago told The U.S. Sun about her late friend Wilkin.
So when Santiago heard about Wilkin’s gruesome murder on July 10, she froze in shock.
Two days prior, Wilkin was dropped off by his girlfriend near the remote beach of Playa la Selva, a secluded forest area in the northeast corner of the island in Luquillo, where he set up a campsite.
For Wilkin’s friends, it wasn’t uncommon for the adventurous and fearless 35-year-old to pack a backpack and go camping.
“He was fearless. He wanted to be in nature. He didn’t care if it was alone or with a group of friends. And nobody could stop him because that’s who he is or he was,” Santiago said.
Wilkin would stay in contact with a group of friends and his girlfriend, Iva Mo, whom he routinely texted in the mornings.
During his stay, Wilkin began sending unsettling messages about a mysterious man in the area, whom he nicknamed “the howler.”
Wilkin told his friends that he could hear someone howling near his tent along with what sounded like fireworks.
On the night of July 9, the messages became more alarming when Wilkin informed his friends that the unknown individual was back.
“He had messaged that same friend and said, ‘The howler is back.’ And then he messaged two hours later, ‘Oh, this guy is getting rowdy lol,’” Mo told CBS affiliate WKRC.
Wilkin’s final message to friends was sent shortly before 2am.
Hours later, a beachgoer on their morning walk located Wilkin’s body at around 6am about 300 yards from his campsite with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Local police believe Wilkin was shot at close range in an execution-style killing.
Santiago recalled gasping when she first learned about the details surrounding her friend’s murder.
“I just couldn’t believe it. I gasped. I was like, is this a joke? I couldn’t believe it. I froze,” the Puerto Rican native told The U.S. Sun.
“The way he died was not like him running away or anything.
“He was facing the ocean probably with his eyes closed, probably kneeling down, at three feet distance to the back of his head.
“It was an execution. And they took his wallet, so they robbed him for whatever the money he had. They took his life away. I’m just still shocked.”
Nearly a month since Wilkin’s murder, authorities in Puerto Rico have not established any significant leads on a potential suspect or suspects.
Joseph Gonzalez Falcon, the superintendent of the police force in Puerto Rico, said on Tuesday that investigators had still not obtained new information.
“I’ve mentioned that there is a person of interest in that case,” Falcon said in a press conference.
“I’ve been in contact with Tyler’s father and other friends of Tyler. As I’ve said, this, like all investigations, is a priority for us.”
Falcon previously said investigators were looking into a person of interest related to Wilkin’s murder; however, he declined to disclose additional details.
The FBI is now involved in the investigation.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16792395/tyler-wilkin-execution-style-murder-puerto-rico-friends-plea/
