A solo camping trip to a remote Puerto Rican beach turned into a nightmare for an Ohio man whose final messages mentioned a mysterious figure nicknamed “the howler.”
Tyler Wilkin, 35, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head on July 10 near Playa la Selva, a forest-lined beach in the island’s northeast corner, according to local reports. A morning walker discovered his body in the mangroves around 6 a.m.
Born and raised in Wilmington, Ohio, Wilkin had moved to Puerto Rico in January 2024, embracing the island’s laid-back lifestyle. His girlfriend, Iva Mo, said he was dropped off at the campsite on July 8 for a two-day solo trip.
But by the night of July 9, Wilkin sent troubling updates. In a message to a friend, he wrote, “The howler is back!” Mo explained that an unidentified man had been lighting fireworks near Wilkin’s tent and howling like a wolf.
Hours later, around 2 a. m. on July 10, Wilkin texted Mo again: “This guy is getting rowdy, LOL.”
It was his last message. When he failed to send his usual “Good morning, love” text at 6 a. m.
, Mo knew something was wrong.
Wilkin’s body was found just after that sunrise. Local police reportedly believe he was shot execution-style at close range. No arrests have been announced.
Mo suspects her boyfriend may have been killed during a robbery, reportedly over something as small as a wallet. Friends and family are frustrated with what they call a slow investigation.
A GoFundMe organized by Lilly Wright aims to raise funds for a private investigator “to uncover answers and ensure that every possible avenue is explored.” The page describes Wilkin as someone who “lived life with enthusiasm and was never afraid to embrace the unexpected.”
His obituary notes he leaves behind his parents, an older brother, a twin sister, and younger sisters. His laughter, they said, was contagious.
As Puerto Rican authorities continue to search for answers, one question lingers: who was “the howler,” and what really happened on that dark beach?
