Alberta worker beaten to death in Mexico

Body of tourist, 50, discovered with skull fracture on secluded beach

A 50- year- old Canadian tourist is the latest victim of violence in Mexico.

The body of Marty Gary Atwood was found at a secluded beach at the southernmost tip of Baja California on Wednesday, Mexican state prosecutors said.

The man, who reportedly had family in Cape Sable Island, N. S., had a fractured skull and appeared to have been beaten to death with a blunt object.

He was on vacation from his job in Alberta.

The body was found on El Tule beach between resort towns San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

“It’s one of the quieter places,” said Walter McKay, a security consultant who specializes in Mexico. Baja California is not a hotbed of organized crime and other criminal activity. “There are a lot of ( drug) cartel bosses and their lieutenants and such who live there because it’s a nice vacation spot. It’s like a neighbourhood that has a Hells Angels clubhouse in it. Crime is low because everyone is scared of retaliation.”

Other provinces, especially near the U. S.- Mexico border have been reduced to virtual no- go zones thanks to drug wars and poor security.

McKay said Atwood’s death bore all the hallmarks of a robbery.

“Bad things do happen once in a while to people. Overall, Baja California is not a dangerous place to go,” he said. Still, he advised visitors to be alert and cautious.

“The problem with the Mexico situation is that you can’t trust the police or the prosecutors. The Mexican government is heavily invested in tourism, so they do not release details that might impact negatively on their trade.”