A family vacation in Colombia concluded in tragedy when a family of three was found deceased in their hotel room on San Andrés Island, Colombia. The family had repeatedly asked hotel staff to relocate them due to an ongoing foul odor in their room.

The deceased were identified as Tito Nelson Martínez Hernández, his wife Viviana Andrea Canro Zuluaga, and their four-year-old son Kevin Matías Martínez Canro. They were discovered on the morning of July 11, 2025, at the Portobelo Convention Hotel in San Andrés. The family, originally from Bogotá, was visiting to celebrate Father’s Day and Mother’s Day with Viviana’s parents, who were staying in a different room.

Viviana’s father, Orlando Canro, discovered the scene when bringing coffee to the family’s room. After receiving no response from knocking, he requested help from the hotel staff. Initially, access was denied, but he was eventually allowed entry with a staff member. Inside, Viviana was found on the floor, while Tito and Kevin were on the bed.

“What I saw the moment I walked through that door was horrifying,” Orlando recounted to local media. “I was the first one into the room, and I saw the scene of my daughter lying on the floor and Nelson and my baby lying on the bed.”

The family had been dissatisfied with their room conditions from the beginning, citing a strong smell. Despite their requests for a room change, hotel management denied the presence of any odor and refused to accommodate their request.

Viviana’s dissatisfaction was documented in audio messages sent to her daughter, where she described the hotel as moldy and lacking basic amenities. The trip was intended as a celebration for Viviana’s parents, with the young family saving for over a year to afford it. Viviana owned a beauty salon, and Tito managed a school transportation route.

According to Colonel James Evelio Totena Girón of the San Andrés Police Department, preliminary autopsy results suggested “generic intoxication” as the cause of death, pending further pathology tests. Authorities have ruled out foul play, focusing on potential poisoning via airborne or ingested toxins. The family had shared a meal and drinks hours before their deaths, and one victim had reached the bathroom and vomited.

Orlando Canro noted that the clothing of the victims retained a gas-like odor, which he preserved as potential evidence. Clothing samples are being tested for carbon monoxide or other toxic gases, exploring the possibility of a gas leak.

The hotel has issued statements of condolence and cooperation with authorities. It revealed that the room might have been fumigated by an external firm, Livingston & Company, servicing the hotel since 2012. The hotel stated its staff has consistently supported the family during this period.

Preliminary autopsy results for Kevin showed no foreign substances, as per reports from his grandfather. The child began vomiting soon after arrival, mentioned by his mother in a call to her daughter in Bogotá.

Confusion initially arose regarding the family’s hotel, with some reports suggesting the Toné 2 hotel instead of Portobelo Convention. However, reservation records confirmed their stay at Portobelo, while Viviana’s parents were booked at the adjacent Toné 2.

The case has garnered significant attention in Colombia, with the National Prosecutor’s Office and Criminal Investigation Directorate leading the probe. Authorities are analyzing food samples and other evidence from the room to clarify the circumstances of the deaths.

Orlando Canro is committed to uncovering the truth behind the incident. He plans to take some of the victims’ belongings to Bogotá for independent analysis, while the medical examiner’s office continues to send samples to specialized laboratories as the investigation proceeds.