Loved ones of the two Oklahoma college students who claim they were drugged on a dream vacation to a Cancun resort are pushing back against allegations from Mexican officials that their horror story is fabricated. Stephanie Snider, the mother of Zara Hull’s boyfriend, Jake, dismissed the officials’ assertion that Zara Hull and Kaylie Pitze were simply drunk and had clean toxicology reports. Snider took to Facebook to clarify that there was no toxicology report done on Zara at the hospital in Mexico, and Kaylie was not taken to the hospital, therefore not undergoing a toxicology test either.
The families of the students were shocked by the response from Mexican officials, with Snider pointing out that they were not contacted as claimed. Additionally, the officials stated that the incident did not occur in Cancun, despite the fact that the women were staying in Cancun during their vacation. Snider expressed her disbelief at the officials’ response, suggesting that it may be an attempt to protect the country’s tourism industry.
A disturbing photo circulated on social media showed the women slumped over by the pool after ordering water at the resort’s swim-up bar. Zara Hull was rushed to the hospital by her boyfriend, Jake Snider, where she was placed on a ventilator and given heavy sedation. The vacation took a sinister turn for Hull and Pitze when they fell ill after consuming water at the resort’s pool bar. The women experienced jerking movements and were unable to walk or speak, leading to them being wheeled back to their hotel rooms.
Hull and Pitze, students at Oklahoma Christian University, had traveled to Cancun for a four-day trip with their boyfriends when the incident occurred. Despite the claims from Mexican officials that there were no drugs in their system, the families suspect foul play and possible targeting for trafficking. Stephanie Snider emphasized the realness of the students’ story, stating that they are still dealing with the emotional aftermath of the incident.
The investigation conducted by the State Attorney General’s office in Quintana Roo found no evidence of drug involvement in the students’ systems. The head of the office, Raciel López Salazar, insisted that there was no drug dealing with fentanyl in the region. He classified the case as simple alcohol consumption and refuted the claims made by the students’ families. The authorities also revealed that the women were staying at a hotel in Isla Mujeres, rather than in Cancun as initially reported.
The State Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto, described the case as a “very rare and strange situation” that is under investigation. He mentioned reaching out to the US Consulate to contact the students’ families but received no response. Despite the officials’ attempts to discredit the students’ claims, the families stand by their story and emphasize the need for continued support for Hull and Pitze as they recover from the ordeal.
Back in Oklahoma, Hull and Pitze are still grappling with the emotional and physical effects of the incident. They struggle with mental clarity and physical stamina, as well as bouts of depression resulting from their inability to recall what happened to them. The support from family and friends has been crucial in helping them navigate the aftermath of the traumatic experience in a foreign country.
As the investigation continues, the families remain steadfast in their belief that the students’ story is genuine and deserving of attention. The incident has shed light on the potential dangers faced by travelers, even in popular tourist destinations like Cancun. The emotional toll of the ordeal underscores the importance of providing adequate support and resources for individuals who find themselves in similar situations while abroad.
