Another American Tourist Dies In Dominican Republic

Joseph Allen, 55, of New Jersey, is the ninth American tourist to die in the Dominican Republic this year, authorities confirm. Allen was visiting the Caribbean island country for a friend’s birthday when a friend discovered him dead in his hotel room.

Allen had complained about the heat and said he was going back to his room to shower. He was found dead on the floor outside the bathroom.

Allen’s death follows the same pattern as the mysterious deaths of other American tourists staying at resorts in the country. Many of the deaths appear to involve drinking liquor from hotel mini-bars, although Dominican authorities say there is no proof the deaths are the result of anything but natural causes. In nearly every case, officials found signs of pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs. Five of the deaths were ruled heart attacks.

Relatives of the tourists who have died are pressing the U.S. to investigate, instead of relying on information from Dominican officials.

“I don’t know who to blame,” Jason Allen, a relative of Joseph Allen, said. “I’d rather not guess because you will drive yourself crazy with that but I do think something is off and I think it needs to be investigated no matter how much money or how much time it is.”