The smell of decomposition of a body inside a hotel located in Minca, a tourist area on the outskirts of Santa Marta, alerted neighbors about the body of a Dutch citizen who had lived there for at least 7 years.
After CTI agents from the Prosecutor’s Office arrived at the well-known property where the 51-year-old man resided, they realized that the body He had already been there for several days and they began to investigate the causes of his death, his businesses in Santa Marta and the messages on his cell phone.
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Problems with guests
The man had settled in this tourist town where he owned a hostel. Photo:Social networks
The subject was identified as Theodorus Ludovicus Johannes Mul, a citizen originally from Geldrop, Netherlands.
According to testimonies collected by authorities at the scene, The Dutchman would have arrived from his native country to Colombia 7 years ago and was dedicated to the hotel business.
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EL TIEMPO established that the Dutchman registered his first hotel in Minca in July 2019 under the name El Paso del Tucán, and referred to it as an ‘eco-hotel’ in which he received, mostly, tourists from Europe.
Later he opened another lodging establishment, in which it also offered camping and restaurant services. This was registered in 2024 under the name 500 ticks.
“Upon arrival, an interview is conducted with someone who claims to be a friend of the deceased. He states that for several days he had not had contact nor observed him, which is why he decided to go to the farm where he resided,” said the Santa Marta Police.
the document of the Dutchman found dead in Minca. Photo:Private file
And they added that it was found in a wooded area of the hotel.
“The citizen was dedicated to managing his hotels in Minca, maintained a good relationship with the neighbors, was dedicated to bird watching and nature. However, there are reports that he had problems with his guests,” an official source assured EL TIEMPO.
Investigators are investigating whether the citizen lived alone on the farm where he was found or if he was in the company of someone else. In addition, messages on his cell phone and testimonies from tourists are also being verified.
The messages
Minca seeks to offer nature tourism lovers an experience full of contrasts. Photo:Camila Villamil Navarro
EL TIEMPO found two messages that are in the possession of authorities in which they refer to the Dutchman as a “dark citizen” and constant drug user.
The messages were published in February of this year by two tourists Frenchmen who stayed in one of the Dutchman’s hotels.
“We realized that the sheets were dirty and had not been changed, with hair and sweat stains. We are digital nomads and not at all picky, but when we asked for extra sheets, the owner was very unpleasant and seemed to be under the influence of some drug. “A terrible stay!” It is stated in one of the messages.
In the other message, they also highlighted his behavior: “When we complained to the owner he became very rude. It seemed like he used hard drugs and lived in the garden, which was scary.”
Authorities told EL TIEMPO that they are waiting for the Forensic Medicine opinion to determine the causes of the foreigner’s death.
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