WA state woman vacationing in Cancún found dead in Mexico, U.S. State Department confirms
A 26-year-old Milton woman was found dead in her hotel room Saturday in Mexico while vacationing in Cancún with her boyfriend, according to the woman’s family.
A Department of State official confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Sativa Transue died in Mexico.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss,” the DOS said in an emailed statement. “We are closely monitoring local authorities’ investigation into the cause of death and are providing the family all appropriate consular assistance.”
The woman’s family learned of Transue’s death after receiving a call from the U.S. Consulate in Mexico, according to KOMO news. Transue, originally from Spokane, was living with her boyfriend of three years in Milton. They left to go to Cancún over Thanksgiving.
“I have never been more heartbroken,” Sativa’s sister, Mykayla Bolieu, told the TV station.
According to the family and local Mexican news reports, Transue’s boyfriend was arrested for investigation of her murder.
Bolieu became worried about her sister after Transue texted her Friday saying she had gotten into a fight with her boyfriend and needed stitches. Bolieu told the news station Transue was found the next morning beaten to death.
Transue was a graduate of Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, about 15 miles south of Spokane. She attended Cheney High School.
The family started a GoFundMe to raise money to bring Transue home. According to the fundraiser’s page, a family representative was traveling to Mexico to identify Transue and assist in bringing her back to the US.
