Bodybuilding beauty queen Luz María Barrera Agatón was found dead by the pool while on holiday near Cancun, Mexico – police say they are not ruling out foul play
A bodybuilding beauty queen has been found dead in a hotel pool on a family holiday.
Luz María Barrera Agatón died in the early hours of Sunday morning, and police in Mexico say they are not ruling out the possibility of foul play. The gym owner and model was staying at a hotel with family and friends at the Coco Resort & Villas Hotel in Motul located west of Cancun, a popular holiday destination. She had been chatting with loved ones around the swimming pool before they made their way to bed at around midnight, leaving her on her own.
When they noticed she was missing, they began to search for her and found her at the bottom of the pool.
The beauty queen’s body was retrieved from the water and emergency services were alerted.
Paramedics attended the scene but could do nothing to save the young woman’s life.
The area was cordoned off by the authorities as officials from the Attorney General’s Office arrived to conduct a preliminary investigation.
According to local reports, a banner threatening was hung outside her gym in Merida just two weeks before her death.
She removed the sign herself and destroyed it without notifying the authorities.
Ms Agatón suffered similar threats in 2017 when thugs threatened her and her then-partner Chiri Roberto, a former state prosecutor.
In 2023, her gym was the scene of a tragic death when a barbell fell on top of a young man, allegedly due to a trainer’s carelessness.
Investigators are looking into whether these incidents could be connected to her death.
Luz was the vice president of the Yucatecan Association of Bodybuilding and Fitness (AFFEY).
She owned her own gym in Merida and sponsored the Bodybuilding Tournament in Motul.
She was was crowned Fitness Champion at the 2017 Mister Mexico bodybuilding contest, and also won the female bikini category at the Mr Olympia Amateur competition held in Spain.
Liz was crowned queen of the Motul Carnival in 2024.
In a tribute, AFFEY president Evangelina Cim Mezquita said on Facebook: “Sometimes it’s impossible to understand why certain things happen.
“We will miss you. Your boundless joy, your simple manner.
“May God comfort your entire family.”
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