The family of a California public defender who died while celebrating his wedding anniversary in Mexico believes he was the victim of a "brutal crime," their lawyer said Tuesday. They arbitrarily opened accesses to dirt roads that would be being used as an escape route for these criminal gangs. One local outlet reported that Blair fell from the fourth floor of the hotel and may have been "under the influence of alcohol." Baja California authorities condemn the violent acts in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada, and assure us that they already have detainees. When traveling to Mexico, make sure you and your vehicle are well-insured against diseases, in order to enjoy a safe, affordable, and hassle-free experience. At the moment, I cant give you a specific date. Yesterday, during a conversation with the funeral home liaison, it was again suggested he be cremated and the family insisted his body not be cremated in order to conduct a thorough, complete, independent investigation. Breaking down the numbers, homicides and robberies - mainly on businesses - were the crimes that registered the highest increases compared . Mexicos embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to requests for comment. Review of Rosarito Beach. Elliot Blair, 33, died Saturday outside his hotel room at Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach, roughly 32 miles south of San Diego, the lawyer, David Scarsone, said in a statement. 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Rosarito has served as a haven for celebrities and royalty for more than 80 years. Affected neighbors give their testimonies on social networks. The autopsy found signs of alcohol, the statement says. The family, which has extensive legal training in criminal law, wholeheartedly believes based on their initial investigation, that Elliot was the victim of a brutal crime, its statement reads. There are few police officers in Rosarito due to its small size. Then it never did. Neighbors from Playas have been denouncing for days through social networks that they put stones and spiked wires on the stage to puncture the tires of those who travel at dawn to stop and thus assault them with violence and at gunpoint. The family opposes cremation of Blairs body, they said, noting that in conversations with a funeral home they have been told several times that authorities have recommended that process. The bad thing is that there are only a few units 6 to 8 of the National Guard for 250km of highway. Spokesperson Vanessa Smith emailed a statement noting that the State Department evaluates each of Mexicos 32 states so danger levels may differ. Since 2016, there has been a decrease in robberies and assaults, despite the fact that homicides have increased. Some areas of Mexico have an increased risk of crime and kidnapping. The officer told me if an emergency happens to call the National Highway Guard headquarters directly. According to the US Embassy, Americans are advised not to travel to areas where there is a high risk of violence, but Rosarito is not one of them. First, its important to be aware of the roads youll be driving on. In January, a big battle between Uber and taxi drivers near the Cancun airport warranted a State Department alert. Fox was bashed last month after a court filing in the $1.6 billion Dominion defamation suit against the network revealed that owner Rupert Murdoch and Fox hosts secretly derided Trump's lies about a "rigged" election yet continued to peddle them to viewers. Youll want to take precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. Elliot's smile was radiant and warmed the hearts of every person he came in contact with. The proposals for actions to improve the security of the Coastal Zone that they raised are: 1. In contrast, crime is a big problem in Rosarito, just like it is in any other city. But in 2022, Acapulco crimes made international headlines. Privacy Policy | For corrections contact corrections@rawstory.com, for support contact support@rawstory.com. His family says the Orange County lawyer was killed, contrary to what Mexican officials have claimed thus far. The State Department regards the highways to Mazatlan and Acapulco as so dangerous, government employees are not allowed to drive them even in daylight. Elliot and Kim had been in the public defenders office in Orange County since 2017, the page states. It is critical to exercise caution when driving at night in Rosarito. The circumstances surrounding Blair's death still remain unclear, as Mexican authorities have yet to disclose many details to this point. The liaison also advised that as of that time, the toxicology report had not been completed. Neighbors affected by these criminal gangs have shared some photos and experiences on social networks such as the following: Friends and Family, who travel the toll road, today 4:30 in the morning I was going to my work and in the height of Baja Malibu they were placed in the form of a stone barrier on the road, be very careful since the same personnel from the National Guard commented that it is a trap to rob. Finally, if you must leave your car for any reason, make sure to take all of your belongings with you and leave the keys in the car. Residents of the United States are advised to reconsider traveling to Tijuana and Rosarito, Baja California due to crime and kidnapping concerns. e. The incident did not occur off their room's private balcony, nor any balcony, for that matter. Playas de Rosarito.-. Elliot Blair was celebrating his first wedding anniversary when he died in Rosarito, Mexico, on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. Because of its proximity to the United States, Rosarito Beach is much more developed and safe than other parts of Mexico. You will also need to purchase a Mexican Tourist Visa, which can be done at the Mexican Consulate or online. The family, which has extensive legal training in criminal law, wholeheartedly believes based on their initial investigation, that Elliot was the victim of a brutal crime. ", Fox regretted Biden victory scoop because it hurt ratings with right-wing viewers: report, listened to a recording of the Zoom conference, Rupert Murdoch and Fox hosts secretly derided Trump's lies, 'Hate speech to genocide': Right-wing host uses CPAC stage to call for the eradication of transgender people, Democrats may get infuriated by their red-state senators but they'll shut up to stay in power, CPAC attendees fear the event is now just a slush fund for Matt Schlapps legal defense. Maybe Fox should dump its sophisticated "election prediction apparatus" for an old-fashioned, slower system, or base calls on what viewers want to hear, they said, according to the Times. A Warner Bros. There is a wide range of top-tier restaurants offering world-class cuisine in this city. Second, youll need to be aware of the traffic laws in Mexico. She then included the Daily Wire host's quote: "Transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely. Last month, Mexican prosecutors notified the Gutierrez family to tell them Gutierrez's DNA matched the body found next to a bullet-riddled van and with his betrothed and her two relatives. ", Caraballo directed another tweet towards the right-wing commentator, saying, "What exactly do you think 'eradication' entails? Before that, Solis was at the Redding Record Searchlight as a multimedia journalist, where he anchored coverage of the destructive 2017 fires in Northern California. This is how the tire of my car was . Williams denies that. Blair was found in his underwear and socks and a sleeping T-shirt outside a room where he and his wife and had stayed in the past, the lawyers statement said. Also, consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Mexico Crime 0 120 54.58 Crime rates in Rosarito, Mexico Safety in Rosarito, Mexico Contributors: 25 Last update: January 2023 These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. But the former president ran away with the CPAC straw poll. In their statement, the family says he "was not intoxicated at the time of this incident" and "the incident did not occur off their room's private balcony, nor any balcony, for that matter.". Nonetheless, there are some precautions to take. The incident occurred in an open-air walkway located outside the front door of their room at Las Rocas Resort and Spa. Blairs family did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Elliot D. Blair, in his early 30s, was in. According to the Citizens Council on Public Safety for Baja California, reports of crime are up 25% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to last year. The liaison had told them a toxicology report had not been completed, they said. Throughout this entire process, it has been suggested by the Mexican authorities that Elliot's body be cremated. Read the Blair family's full statement here: "The family of Elliot Blair is absolutely reeling from the tragic death of this amazing young man who was in Rosarito Beach celebrating his first wedding anniversary. Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico. The majority of tourists are safe in Rosarito. Is Rosarito Mexico expensive? The Mexican state of Baja California has seen an increase in violence in recent years, and the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning for the region. The family of the Orange County public defender believes that he was "the victim of a brutal crime." Police reported several deaths and injuries. Third, youll need to have your car insured for driving in Mexico. Elliot Blair, right, was found dead at a hotel and spa near Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Jan. 14 after an apparent fall from a balcony, local police said. found dead at a resort hotel earlier this month. The United States government has no restrictions on travel to this area. Neighbors of Playas denounce that they put stones and spiked wires on the stage to puncture the tires of those who travel at dawn so that they stop and thus assault them with violence. Mexican journalists are routinely murdered for reporting on crime, which makes documenting murders a dangerous challenge. The drive is about an hour and a half from the US-Mexico border. John Gress/Corbis via Getty Images, State Department advisory: Reconsider travel. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Blair had been with the public defenders office since 2017, the year he passed the bar exam, and handled felony cases out of the Santa Ana office. The four dined at a nice restaurant. c. Additionally, Elliot and Kim had stayed in this specific room on the third floor on multiple occasions. READ: 'Hate speech to genocide': Right-wing host uses CPAC stage to call for the eradication of transgender people. Blair's family plans to carry out an independent investigation, hiring a private investigator and a forensic pathologist, Scarsone said. The family informed the liaison that they would be conducting their own independent investigation, specifically hiring a private investigation firm, retaining an independent forensic pathologist to conduct a medical examination, including their own toxicology analysis. The good thing is that they failed to assault. There are not enough words to express the level of love he had for Kim. Yesterday, during a conversation with the funeral home liaison, it was again suggested he be cremated and the family insisted his body not be cremated in order to conduct a thorough, complete, independent investigation. When living in Rosarito full-time, you should never leave anything unprotected. While Blairs relatives do not offer any specific evidence of a crime, they dispute his death occurred off the couples resort room balcony and say it happened outside the rooms front door in an open-air walkway, according to the statement. Rosarito, Mexico is a popular tourist destination, but unfortunately, like many cities in Mexico, it has a high crime rate. Overall, driving to Rosarito is safe if youre prepared and aware of the risks. The residents of the area who have been victims of these events have not been denounced because they want to avoid the long lines that are made, but they will seek to do so electronically with an application (App) that the Central Prosecutor made known to them in a meeting. Just last week, Knowles' responded to backlash he faced for a similar transphobic comment calling for a ban on "transgenderism. Tijuana, located in the northern part of Mexico, is a city. Elliot was a loving husband, son, and brother. Municipal police Decentralize the San Antonio del Mar booth from the Playas de Tijuana District, assigning the staff directly to the sector with a Supervisor in charge (it is suggested to appoint a service there).- The state of force must be 4 elements per turn with two units.- The San Antonio del Mar booth must have 24-hour coverage and the element must be armed.- Collaborate with the National Guard in surveillance tours of the highway.- Make tours permanently in each of the subdivisions in the area.- Verify that the signing points of each of the subdivisions are working.- Coordinate with the Municipal Police of Playas de Rosarito and the National Guard so that preventive tours are carried out on the Rancho del Mar bridge.- Carry out preventive tours through the gaps in the area. Be careful with your belongings lots of crime. Mexico has better taxi services than many other countries in terms of comfort and safety, and the cost is reasonable. We wish we could provide everyone with more information, but very limited information has been disclosed by authorities in Mexico, it reads. When driving in Rosarito, make sure to use caution at all times. As his family works with the United States officials to learn more, Tijuana-based media has reported that the Baja California Prosecutor's Office ruled that Blair died of head trauma from falling off his hotel balcony. An American attorney found dead in Mexico was 'the victim of a brutal crime,' his family claims Blair - who served as a deputy public defender in Orange County, California - was celebrating his. Elliot Blair was found dead January 14, 2023, while on vacation in Mexico. In Rosarito, pickpocketing is not uncommon, but it is one of the least common crimes. According to the attorney generals office in Baja California, Blairs body had signs of alcohol. However, the family has disputed that notion. Blair's family has not heard about his death directly from local authorities; instead, they learned about what happened from a "liaison" to the local coroner's office, the lawyer's statement said. Elliot was a brilliant attorney with a bright future. Rosarito Beach is a little jewel on the pacific ocean that many more people need to experience. Tijuanas crime rate, particularly the high number of homicides in the non-tourist areas, is concerning. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The liaison had told them a toxicology report had not been completed, they said. Much of the worst activity is taking place in Guadalajara, about 200 miles inland. Hotels with self-contained units are very common, having been in existence for a long time. Listen, its one of the sad realities: If we hadnt called Arizona, those three or four days following Election Day, our ratings would have been bigger," Suzanne Scott, chief executive of Fox News Media, said at a meeting days later, according to the Times, which listened to a recording of the Zoom conference. Finally, they reported that they arbitrarily opened accesses to dirt roads that they had said were supposed to be neighborhood roads, but that they should not be open to the scenic and that with regard to criminal acts, they are the ones that would be being used as a route of escape for these criminal gangs. Mexican authorities investigating the case of an American attorney who was found dead at a resort hotel earlier this month determined there was no foul play in his death, according to an official statement released Thursday. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. There, territorial battles between criminal groups take place in tourist areas. They just started building a life together in their first year of marriage.. If you follow these simple guidelines, you will have a great time in Rosarito Beach. Elliot had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life.