# Puerto Rican Man Found Dead in Medellín Hotel

> Puerto Rican technology consultant Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez died in Medellín hotel room, homicide investigation ongoing.
- Title: Puerto Rican Man Found Dead in Medellín Hotel · The Rio Times
- Summary: Puerto Rican technology consultant Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez died in Medellín hotel room, homicide investigation ongoing. A 53-year-old Puerto Rican…
- Keywords: gustavo javier rodriguez melendez, medellin, colombia, puerto rico, homicide, technology consultant, autopsy pending, scopolamine, burundanga, news, world, politics
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/puerto-rican-found-dead-medellin-hotel
- Author: Rocco Caldero
- Published: 2026-10-20T21:42:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: gustavo javier rodriguez melendez, medellin, colombia, puerto rico, homicide, technology consultant, autopsy pending, scopolamine, burundanga, news, world, politics
## Who was Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez
A 53-year-old Puerto Rican technology consultant and US citizen who often visited Medellín.

> Gustavo Javier Rodríguez Meléndez, 53, a Puerto Rican technology consultant and US citizen who often visited Medellín
## Found Dead in Medellín Hotel Room
His body was discovered in a hotel room in Laureles, Medellín, Colombia on Monday 19 October 2026.

> He was found dead in his hotel room in Medellín, Colombia, on Monday 19 October 2026
## Homicide Investigation
Puerto Rican media report it is being investigated as a homicide with cause of death pending.

> Puerto Rican media report that it is being investigated as a homicide
## No Arrests Reported
No arrests have been made and the autopsy by Colombia’s forensic medicine institute is pending.

> The cause of death has not been established, and no arrests have been reported
## Driver Raised Alarm
A driver who regularly took him around became worried because he had not answered messages.

> The driver became worried because Rodríguez Meléndez had not answered his messages
## Scopolamine Hypothesis
Local media suggest a robbery involving scopolamine, known locally as burundanga.

> Local media say one preliminary hypothesis is a robbery in which the victim was given a substance, possibly scopolamine, known locally as "burundanga"
## Puerto Rico Government Response
Puerto Rico’s Department of State confirmed awareness and contacted Colombia’s consulate.

> Puerto Rico’s Department of State said it is aware of the death and has contacted Colombia’s consulate in Puerto Rico
## Autopsy Pending
The cause of death remains unknown as Colombia’s forensic medicine institute awaits autopsy results.

> The cause of death has not been established. The autopsy by Medicina Legal, Colombia’s forensic medicine institute, is still pending
## Key takeaway

A 53-year-old Puerto Rican technology consultant was found dead in Medellín, Colombia, with homicide investigation pending.