A trip intended for celebration ended in tragedy when a Colombian family was discovered deceased in their hotel room on the island of San Andrés, Colombia. The family had repeatedly requested to be moved due to an unpleasant odor.
The bodies of Tito Nelson Martínez Hernández, his wife Viviana Andrea Canro Zuluaga, and their four-year-old son Kevin Matías Martínez Canro were found on the morning of July 11, 2025, at the Portobelo Convention Hotel in San Andrés. They had traveled from Bogotá, Colombia, to celebrate Father’s Day and Mother’s Day with Viviana’s parents, who were staying in a separate room.
Orlando Canro, Viviana’s father, found the family after delivering coffee to their room. When there was no answer after knocking, he sought assistance from the hotel staff. Initially, they refused entry, but later allowed him inside with a staff member. Inside, Viviana was found on the floor, and Tito and Kevin on the bed. Orlando covered Viviana with a blanket.
“What I saw the moment I walked through that door was horrifying,” Orlando told local media, describing the scene. The family had complained from the first night about a strong odor and requested a room change, which was denied by the hotel.
Orlando mentioned in a radio interview that Viviana continued to insist on changing rooms until the incident occurred. Audio messages from Viviana to her daughter expressed dissatisfaction with hotel conditions, citing mold and lack of amenities.
The family had saved for over a year for this vacation, a gesture for Orlando and his wife. Viviana owned a beauty salon, and Tito operated a school transportation route. Colonel James Evelio Totena Girón from the San Andrés Police noted preliminary autopsy results indicated “generic intoxication,” with further tests pending.
Foul play has been ruled out, as no violence was evident. Investigations focus on potential poisoning from airborne toxins or ingested substances. The family had consumed a meal and drinks in their room before their deaths. Clothing from the victims, retaining a strong gas-like odor, is being analyzed for toxic gases such as carbon monoxide.
The hotel issued statements expressing condolences and confirmed cooperation with authorities. The room might have been fumigated with chemicals by Livingston & Company, a service provider for the hotel since 2012.
Preliminary autopsy results for Kevin showed no foreign substances, according to his grandfather. Kevin had vomited shortly after arriving at the hotel, which his mother reported to her daughter in Bogotá.
The investigation was initially complicated by confusion over the hotel, with some reports indicating the Toné 2 hotel. However, reservation records confirmed the family had booked at the Portobelo Convention in October 2024. The case has garnered attention across Colombia, with the National Prosecutor’s Office and Criminal Investigation Directorate leading inquiries.
Orlando Canro is seeking answers and plans to have some belongings independently analyzed in Bogotá. The medical examiner’s office is also conducting further tests as the investigation continues.
