The family of a 27-year-old Hermosa Beach man who was stabbed to death while vacationing with friends in Mexico last week is calling on the FBI to investigate.
Kris Meyer, of Claremont, said his son, Taylor Kristopher Meyer, was robbed by three attackers and stabbed through the heart early Friday morning in Playa del Carmen, where he was with a group celebrating a friend’s 30th birthday.
“On behalf of the United States government, we offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” the official said. “The U.S. Consulate in Merida is providing consular assistance to Taylor’s family. We are coordinating with Mexican authorities, who have the lead on the investigation. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, and due to the on-going investigation, we have no further comment.”
Kris Meyer said an official from the consulate called his home with news of the death Friday afternoon. His wife, Krista, took the phone call and began crying hysterically.
“We didn’t believe it because we thought it was some kind of a cruel prank,” he said.
The official said Meyer’s body was found in a park about a 30-minute walk from the vacation rental near the beach where he and friends were staying, Kris Meyer said. There were witnesses to the attack and the assailants took his son’s wallet, watch, cellphone and shoes.
The friends had gone out to a nearby bar the night before, his father said.
The Embassy of Mexico in the U.S. also issued a statement confirming Meyer’s death and expressing condolences to his family.
“According to police reports, this event took place in a specific area where tourists do not typically visit. Mexican authorities are conducting a full investigation and have been in contact with U.S. authorities. So far, one person has been arrested,” the statement said.
Despite the arrest, Kris Meyer said he is skeptical of the integrity of the investigation led by local authorities.
He said Mexican news reports about the slaying are inaccurate and that he wants the FBI to investigate the death. Graphic photos of his son’s body have been published online. Kris Meyers worries the case will be downplayed by local authorities in an effort to protect the area’s tourism industry.
The State Department updated its travel advisory for Mexico in August, saying tourists should “exercise increased caution” visiting the country because of crime.
“We just want to shed some light on this, we want to know what happened and we want justice done,” Kris Meyer said. “We don’t want some scapegoat petty thief taking the blame for something he didn’t do and the only way we will have confidence is if the FBI is involved.”
Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said she was not immediately aware of whether the Mexican government has made a request for assistance with the investigation.
Taylor Meyer moved to Hermosa Beach a year-and-a-half ago and worked as a sales executive for the UPS, his father said. He grew up in Claremont and graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a double degree in communications and sociology.
“He was just a kind spirit, a 6-foot-3 gentle giant,” his father said. “He was one tough hombre, but he had a heart of gold.”
When the news spread over the weekend, friends organized a candlelight vigil Sunday night on the Hermosa Beach Pier, which drew about 200 people.
Kris Meyer said he was moved to know his son had touched the lives of so many in such a short time living in the beach town. Many shared stories of his son’s generosity.
The Meyers thanked the Hermosa Beach Police Department for its support during the vigil. Now, they’re planning their son’s memorial Saturday at Purpose Church in Pomona and filling out paperwork to have his remains returned to the U.S. Friends set up a GoFundMe page to help the family cover funeral and other costs.
“I don’t want this to happen to anybody else or anyone else’s child,” Kris Meyer said. “My eyes are red, I have no tears left. I have never cried so long and hard in my life.”
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