Winnipeg Woman’s Husband Dies in Mexico Resort During Honeymoon, Two Staff Members Arrested

A Winnipeg woman’s husband died in a resort in Mexico during their honeymoon and she is still trying to find out how it exactly happened. Two staff members are in custody as the altercation took place between the husband and multiple resort staff. The incident took place on January 13, the night before the couple was scheduled to return home.

As per the latest reports, Stacey Ropos and her husband Jesse were honeymooning in Mexico and stayed at the Catalonia Riviera Maya resort in Puerto Aventuras for nine days. On January 13, the night before they were supposed to head back home, Stacey and Jesse went to a bar where Jesse decided to stay back while Stacey headed back to their room. She was woken by resort staff at around 3 a.m. when she headed downstairs and saw police tape.

“As I walked up, I saw the police tape and a woman stopped me and said, ‘I hate to tell you that your husband is dead.’ I just instantly ran underneath the police tape to where he was and just started screaming for him to get up,” Stacey said. Speaking with the media, she said, “We specifically chose this place because it was a gated community. It’s just crazy to think that we were supposed to be safe and that we were, unfortunately, far from it.”

According to a translated police report, Jesse got into a fight with two resort guests and two security officials. The report claims that the two employees at the resort restrained Jesse, with one putting him in a chokehold. Two men were arrested and accused of homicide, but no formal charges have been filed yet. They are in custody till Friday when the next steps will be decided.

Jesse’s body arrived in Winnipeg and Stacey had to pay a $10,800 USD funeral home bill before the body could be released. Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that the consular officials in Mexico are in contact with local authorities and are providing assistance to the family.

As of now, it is unclear what caused the alleged fight. Jesse leaves behind his wife Stacey and three children.

Vineet Washington