Oklahoma college students Zara Hull and Kaylie Pitzer experienced a harrowing ordeal at a Cancun resort that has left their families fearing they were targeted for trafficking or organ harvesting after being drugged with fentanyl.
Hull and Pitzer had been on what was supposed to be a dream vacation in Mexico with their boyfriends when the terrifying events unfolded.
Stephanie Snider, the mother of Hull’s boyfriend, Jake, raised these alarming concerns after Hull and Pitzer were found slumped over at the resort’s pool bar on August 2, shortly after ordering water.
Snider took to Facebook to express her fears, writing, “We believe they were planning to take her away to be trafficked or perhaps even to take her organs (which is what we were later told is a common thing that is done). They most likely would have done something to my son as well, possibly even death.”
While Snider did not specify who had warned the family about the potential dangers of trafficking or organ harvesting, the incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of tourists in the region.
Hull, 20, was later hospitalized with what doctors suspected were life-threatening side effects from synthetic fentanyl, a potent opioid. She remained in the hospital for nearly two weeks following the incident, finally returning to Oklahoma on August 12. Snider shared an update on Facebook, noting that Hull was “feeling better physically each day—just still a little wobbly and dizzy at times.” She also mentioned that Pitzer was still struggling with the trauma of the incident and asked for continued prayers for both young women.
The New York Post reports that during Hull’s hospitalization, her boyfriend, Jake, was initially separated from her, causing significant distress; when he was finally allowed to see her, he found her intubated and under heavy sedation. Jake reportedly intervened when hospital staff attempted to move Hull to another location for an MRI, suspecting that the move might be a front for trafficking.
Hull discussed the added financial stress on top of the horror with CBS News, “The baseline was $10,000 for them to even look at me.”
Now, Snider is warning other parents to be vigilant about the potential dangers their children could face while traveling abroad. The ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the risks that can come with international travel, especially in areas where drugging and trafficking are reported concerns.
As Hull continues her recovery, the family remains cautious and concerned about the long-term impacts of the ordeal. The victims hope to raise awareness of the dangers that can occur in popular tourist destinations.
