Deadly Detour: The Tragic Road Trip of Four Americans to Mexico in a Minivan
Tell me once not to go to Mexico, shame on you. Tell me twice, shame on me! That’s my motto, and I won’t need a third warning because I ain’t never leaving the country, and I will never go back to Mexico.
I don’t feel international travel is safe because there have been too many unsettling incidents that have happened to Americans in Mexico and elsewhere, such as:
My lawyer friend told me about some situations his daughter had to deal with in Germany.
I know tragedies happen everywhere, including the US, and there are more stories out there, but these are the stories that have stuck with me as someone fascinated with true crime stories.
Now with the recent tragedy of the kidnapping of four Americans and the murder of two of them, it’s just not worth the risk for me.
The four Americans: Latavia “Tay” McGee, Shaheed Woodward, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams were kidnapped in March of 2023
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to news reports, Latavia McGee’s cousin, Shadheed Woodward, and two male friends drove her in a minivan from South Carolina to Matamoros, where she was planning to have a tummy tuck.
However, things took a tragic turn when they were mistaken for Haitian drug smugglers. The group was fired upon and kidnapped by a cartel, resulting in the death of two members and the rescue of two others who were taken to an American hospital.
As of now, this tragic case of mistaken identity is still unfolding. Unfortunately, internet detectives are creating wild stories and twisting details into conspiracy theories, while some politicians are using this tragedy to advance their political agendas.
This rumor mill and political tug-of-war are doing an injustice to the victims, their families, friends, and all American travelers.
Can we pause and have a moment of silence?!
TRAVELERS BEWARE
As a van lifer, I strictly travel within the US these days. Sure, within the US, the country of my birth, I have experienced profiling and found myself in scary situations as a traveler. However, I feel America is the safest option for travelers right now.
My few trips out of the country were planned by travel agents and I was part of large groups. Looking back, there were a couple of incidents where I could have met the same fate as the four African Americans.
Once, I veered off from the resort and group to go to a small town in Jamaica for hair braiding.
Although my hair turned out fly and I met lovely people, I was warned that the area was dangerous.
Another time, while on a group trip to Cancun and staying at a resort, a few of us rented a car and accidentally drove into an unsafe-looking area.
On a side note, I find it strange when news reports refer to Black people as Americans, as they usually don’t. But I digress.
I have friends from a co-working group who are currently traveling internationally or planning to do so. Some have even taken up permanent residence in other countries.
The founder of the Discord group where our co-working group started — has a business focused on housesitting and international travel.
She and others in the group have mostly positive travel experiences and follow good safety practices. However, I personally prefer not to travel internationally.
I ain’t going nowhere.
I’m sharing tips and insights to help those who are road trippers like me or seasoned globetrotters like some of my friends stay safe on their journeys.
1/ Research your destination
I read that Ms. McGee had been to the location in the past and felt it was safe. Her mother warned her to be careful, but she still went.
The group relied on word-of-mouth travel, with McGee assuring the others that the area was safe. She probably felt reassured from her past travel experience and also from watching YouTube videos of medical tourism stories of people getting a BBL or a tummy tuck.
While it’s good to talk to people and watch videos for their opinions and insights, it’s also important to consult US Travel officials to get a rating of a location.
As the travelers found out, the area where they went (Matamoros) had a Level Four rating, meaning it’s dangerous and do NOT travel there.
2/ Know the political climate
Mexico always seems to be in political turmoil. Reports indicate that the majority of Mexico is controlled by the cartel, making it an unsafe place to be. I read entire police departments have quit their jobs afraid of the cartel.
I read that after the department quit, the only one brave enough to take the job was a 21-year-old female college student.
There are always wild stories circulating about Mexico, so it’s better to err on the side of caution when it comes to personal safety.
3/Know Surroundings
The group of Americans who were kidnapped were rapidly ambushed, so being aware of their surroundings may not have helped. However, in general, it’s a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, even in America, where there are sundown towns, gangbangers gang banging, neighborhood watch groups that exclude certain people, and police profiling.
I got a bogus ticket for following too closely behind someone I was traveling with. Warning stay out of Tucumcari New Mexico.
BTW, police and gangbangers alike should take a cue from the cartel and snitch on members in your group to stop violence. Although the cartel snitched to get the spotlight off of them.
4/ Don’t rely on a GPS
GPS can give outdated or incorrect directions, even in America. In another country, it’s even more likely to happen.
5/ Avoid alcohol
One friend who didn’t go with the four Americans mentioned that they loved to party. Partying is not a crime, but drinking too much can impair judgment and lead to unsafe situations.
6/ Cultural awareness
Political and cultural climates can be closely tied. Understanding the political issues and attitudes in a particular country can help you understand the local culture and customs. This can help you avoid cultural misunderstandings and navigate social situations more smoothly.
7/ Carry identification
Always carry identification with you, including a photocopy of your passport, driver’s license, or other form of ID. Keep important information in a safe place that you know of.
A friend once lost an important paper in Cancun, which caused us to rent a car and make a wrong turn in a dangerous neighborhood.
8/ Purchase travel insurance
Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses and other unforeseen events. You never know when something unexpected may happen.
9/ Use authorized taxis
It’s recommended to use authorized taxis rather than hailing one off the street. In America it’s known as a bootleg taxi.
Hailing authorize taxis or using a verifiable ride company will ensure that you’re traveling with a reputable driver who won’t take you to unsafe areas.
A friend once got into an illegal taxi in (I forget where) and was involved in an accident. She needed arm surgery, and thankfully, she had travel insurance to cover it. She would have been S.O.L without traveling insurance.
While the Americans who were recently kidnapped drove themselves in a rental vehicle — should you need a ride, always use legit car services.
10/LEARN THE LANGUAGE
As someone who has traveled a lot and belongs to a group of women who travel and move abroad , I am aware of the risks and mishaps that can occur when language barriers and cultural differences come into play.
SPRING BREAK
Ya’ll negros getting ready to go on spring break. Being serious if you know of a college student about to go on spring break please tell them traveling in certain destinations can be risky for tourist.
Places like Mexico and Aruba are popular travel spots, but they can also be dangerous.
FOUR AMERICANS MOVIE
Four South Carolinians in a white minivan take a road trip to the Mexican border city of Matamoros and get kidnapped in March of 2023.
The kidnapping of Latavia “Tay” McGee, Shaheed Woodward, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams should be made into a movie.
The plot thickens
The group is mistaken for Hattian drug smugglers and they are taken to a stash house where they are tortured and two are killed.
Their ordeal unravels a complex web of themes and issues, including tragedy, mistaken identity, medical tourism, political manipulation, and internet conspiracy theories.
While the conspiracy theories circulating online about this case are deeply hurtful to the victims’ families and friends, they also add to the story’s intrigue and cinematic potential.
I can imagine a movie that captures the human drama and emotional toll of the victims’ captivity, while also exploring the wider social and political context of their tragedy..
The movie could raise important questions about the perils and promises of international travel, the limits of diplomatic protection, and the power of online narratives to shape public perception and justice.
In short, the kidnapping of the road trippers would make a fascinating movie and deserves to be told and retold, not only to honor the victims and their families, but also to educate audiences about the dangers of international travel for medical tourism.
Should a movie be made? Do tell in the comment section below.
Read about Shanquella Robinson HERE. Watch it HERE.
MY SIMPLE LIFE IN A MINI CAMPERVAN.
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