Orange County Man Found Dead After Tinder Date in Colombia

Paul Nguyen, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, was reportedly killed last week in Medellín, Colombia. His family is now trying to bring his body home.

November 18, 2022

The family of an American man is asking for help after he was reportedly found dead in South America last week.

According to Colombian news outlets, Paul Nguyen arrived in Medellin on Nov. 6 and was killed just four days later. The 27-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate was reportedly visiting the country with a friend when he made a connection on a popular dating app. Nguyen’s family says he began chatting with a woman on Tinder and agreed to meet her at a bar. His sister, Amy Nguyen, told ABC 7 that her brother was last seen leaving the establishment at around 2 a.m. Thursday, and his body was found several hours later next to garbage receptacles.

Nguyen’s family says authorities believe the man was lured into a dangerous situation and subsequently drugged and robbed. Amy Nguyen shared additional details in a since-deleted Reddit post, stating her brother’s card “was used at a pharmacy, however according to the cashier the guy was not Asian.”

“He is a victim of a cruel and senseless crime,” his sister wrote on a GoFundMe page. “These people chose money and greed over a single thought of my brother’s life. With the help of his kind friend and our community, we tried whatever we could to find him. But it was not enough. I wish I could have done more. I wish I had protected him more. I have great appreciation and gratitude for everyone who had helped us try to find him.”

According to ABC 7, Colombian police have yet to make any arrests in connection to Nguyen’s murder. His family is now focused on bringing his body to the U.S.

“I come to you, for my family, for support in preparing the service he deserves,” Amy Nguyen continued. “I am working on bringing Paul back to the US for a funeral service. Paul deserves to be back home, surrounded by love, family, and friends.”