In a late 2010 travel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State, citizens were urged to postpone unnecessary travel to many countries in Central and South America, including Mexico and Colombia.
For those rarely keeping up with the news from the countries above, such a travel warning may sound like just another over-precautionary tale.
In reality, it has been an ongoing deterrent since many decades ago. Criminal groups in the country have been known to kidnap foreign tourists.
Visitors from the United States (or any other country for that matter) are constantly advised to practice extra safety measures, or the otherwise fun holiday time may turn into the worst nightmare.
For Mark Kilroy and his family, the nightmare happened during the early days of spring break in March 1989 at a ranch located just several miles south of the U.S. – Mexico border.
Mark enjoyed his time drinking with his friends one night in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas.
The following day all his three friends made it back to South Padre Island. A month later, police found his remains.
10 /10 Drinking And Sun Tanning
Bill Huddleston, Bradley Moore, Brent Martin, and Mark Kilroy – all studied in Texas and former basketball teammates from Santa Fe – took a trip bound for South Padre Island in the early hours of March 11, 1989.
They packed into Brent’s car heading to the relaxing stretch of sand right at the southern tip of the State of Texas.
During the first days of spring break, they were looking forward to sun tanning, drinking, and meeting some girls on the beach. However, their idea of a good time was not easily contained within the country’s border.
9 /10 Gateway International Bridge
Everything was almost exactly as they had planned during the first few days of the vacation.
They stayed at a hotel in South Padre Island, about 25 miles northeast of Brownsville, from which a short walk across the Gateway International Bridge would get them to Matamoros.
All four then decided to cross the border on Sunday evening. In Mexico that night, they danced and drank until after midnight before going back to the hotel.
It must have been good because they would again cross the border, but only three made it back alive to South Padre Island.