The FBI is assisting Puerto Rico police as investigators examine the fatal shooting of Ohio native Tyler Wilkin.
LUQUILLO, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico police have identified a person of interest in the killing of a 35-year-old Ohio native who was found with a gunshot wound near his campsite at a remote beach earlier this month, the island’s police superintendent said.
Police Superintendent Joseph González said investigators believe the unidentified person may have information connected to the death of Tyler Ray Wilkin. González stressed that police have not formally classified the individual as a suspect. The FBI is providing technical assistance as local investigators work to determine who killed Wilkin and why.
A person walking along Playa La Selva discovered Wilkin’s body on the morning of July 10, according to Puerto Rican authorities and local news reports. Responding officers determined that he had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. His body was found some distance from the place where he had set up his tent and left his belongings.
Wilkin had been camping alone since July 8 at the beach, which is within the Northeast Ecological Corridor along Puerto Rico’s northeastern coast. Friends had planned to join him July 10, the same day his body was discovered. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive or disclosed evidence linking a specific person to the shooting.
González said the secluded location has made the investigation difficult. Few people were believed to have been in the area, and witnesses interviewed by police said they did not hear gunfire. The superintendent said detectives have developed investigative leads but declined to discuss them because the case remains active.
Before his death, Wilkin reportedly sent friends messages describing someone near the campsite who was making howling noises and setting off what sounded like fireworks. His girlfriend, Iva Mo, told Ohio news outlets that one of his final messages said the person was becoming rowdy. Investigators have obtained the messages, but authorities have not said whether the person described in them is the person of interest.
Capt. Edwin Collazo González, director of the Fajardo Criminal Investigations Corps, said earlier in the investigation that detectives had taken possession of Wilkin’s cellphone and were seeking access to its contents. Police hoped the device could help reconstruct his final hours and clarify whom he contacted or encountered before his death.
Detectives also interviewed people who had been with Wilkin before the shooting and others who were camping nearby, Collazo González said. Those interviews had not produced a clear account of what happened. Authorities have not announced that a weapon was recovered, and no arrests or criminal charges have been reported.
Wilkin was originally from Wilmington, Ohio, and moved to Puerto Rico in January 2024, according to his obituary and statements from people close to him. His family described him as adventurous and said he enjoyed the outdoors, beaches, hiking and camping. He also worked in restaurants and had experience as a chef.
Relatives and friends have raised money to hire a private investigator as they seek additional information about the case. The fundraising campaign initially sought $15,000 before organizers increased the goal to $30,000 following a strong response from donors. Organizers said remaining funds could help the family with funeral expenses.
Mo has publicly expressed frustration over the lack of an arrest and said Wilkin’s loved ones want a complete investigation. González said police understand the family’s concerns and are communicating with federal investigators while pursuing available leads.
The Puerto Rico Police Bureau continues to lead the homicide investigation with assistance from the FBI. Authorities have not released the person of interest’s identity or announced when additional information may become public. The circumstances surrounding Wilkin’s death and the motive for the shooting remain unknown.
Author note: Last updated July 31, 2026.