Local man who witnessed crime held by Mexican authorities
A Round Lake Park man chose to spend a week at an exclusive new hotel at a Mexican resort for some fun in the sun. But the night before he was to return home, Michael Thompson became entangled in a murder investigation near Cabo San Lucas, and the good time vanished.
A week later, Thompson, a service coordinator for a manufacturing company, is still being held by police, an apparent witness in the shooting death of a Canadian man and the injury to the man's girlfriend.
Back home, his father is getting more concerned by the day, wondering why his son isn't being allowed to leave, and when he might return.
"He says he's in a safe place. He's not in jail. It's very scary is what it is," Roger Thompson said.
Roger Thompson said he has been unable to get much information from any source, including Mexican police or the American consulate.
"Everything you get is sketchy to nothing," he said.
Messages left by the Daily Herald for the U.S. Consular Agency in Cabo San Lucas were not returned. Mexican police were unable to be reached.
The U.S. Department of State could not confirm Thompson was being held.
"Generally, this is something we can't speak to because of privacy considerations," said Kurtis Cooper, a department spokesman.
A Canadian man was shot and killed May 15 as he opened the door to his room at the Riu Santa Fe Hotel, a Canadian news service reported. His girlfriend was shot in one of her ankles.
A report published Tuesday by the news service quoted Mexican police as saying a 32-year-old American man was in custody. On Wednesday, the news service identified Michael Thompson, 32, as a "key witness" in the case.
No one has been arrested, the report said.
Roger Thompson said his son was staying on the same floor and witnessed "a part of it." He declined to get into details other than to contend the woman was appreciative of what his son did at the time.
According to Thompson, his son is in protective custody. He has been told authorities have the right to hold him for 30 days but has been unable to get much more information from any source about what's happening.
Mike Thompson's situation has been unclear since his father received a phone call from him at 3:40 a.m. May 16, the day he was scheduled to return home.
"At that point, he was going to the police station to make a statement," Roger Thompson said. He has been in police custody since.
Mike Thompson speaks Spanish, loves Mexico and vacations there every year. But he had never been to Cabo San Lucas, which is on the Baja Peninsula on the Pacific Ocean. Because he likes nice hotels, he decided to try the Riu Santa Fe, which opened last winter.
"He has a good job and can afford to do this. He went by himself because he couldn't find any buddies with the money to go," Roger Thompson said.
He said he speaks with his son by phone about once a day.
"He's breaking down. He's been under scrutiny for so long, it's traumatic for him."
"This is a case my son just tried to help someone and he opened a door to something he didn't expect to begin with. I don't know why he's still there."