Austin Couple's Puerto Vallarta Vacation Disrupted by Cartel Leader's Death

Ripley and Jason Zeidan were caught in the fallout after Mexican authorities killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Ripley and Jason Zeidan, an Austin couple, were vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when news broke that the Mexican army had killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This led to unrest in the area, with the couple witnessing fires and a heightened police presence. They were advised to shelter in place by the U.S. Embassy and ultimately were able to return home safely a few days later.

Why it matters

The death of a high-profile cartel leader often leads to violent power struggles and unrest in the surrounding areas, putting tourists at risk. This incident highlights the potential dangers that travelers to Mexico can face, even in popular resort towns like Puerto Vallarta.

The details

After receiving messages from concerned friends on social media, the Zeidans learned that the Mexican army had killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho,' the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This led to fires, burned cars, and a heightened police presence in Puerto Vallarta. The couple primarily stayed in their Airbnb during this time, but one of their friends witnessed the aftermath firsthand. The Zeidans contacted the U.S. Embassy, which advised them to shelter in place. They were able to return home a few days later, with four of the five in their travel group flying back on Tuesday.

  • On Saturday night, the Zeidans were out in Puerto Vallarta.
  • Early Sunday morning, the Zeidans began receiving messages about the situation.
  • On Sunday, the Zeidans witnessed several building and car fires from the roof of their building.
  • On Monday, the Zeidans said locals were starting to move around again.
  • On Tuesday morning, the Zeidans said the town felt more normal, with locals and tourists walking around.

The players

Ripley Zeidan

An Austin resident who was on vacation in Puerto Vallarta with her husband Jason when the unrest occurred.

Jason Zeidan

Ripley's husband, who was also on vacation in Puerto Vallarta when the unrest occurred.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes

Also known as 'El Mencho,' he was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, who was killed by the Mexican army.

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What they’re saying

“We were pretty lucky that we had groceries and, like tequila here. Like we were pretty lucky that we were prepared to be in the space for two days, you know? Not have to go out.”

— Ripley Zeidan (KXAN)

“I will also say I was pretty fearful, not just because it was a pretty plain view to us, but I was going on different social media platforms just to see what people were reporting. I was mainly on Instagram and like Bluesky, and then I ventured over to, actually, redownloaded X just because Bluesky wasn't like, giving me a whole lot of current info. And then what I saw on X was a very, very, very wildly different narrative.”

— Jason Zeidan (KXAN)

What’s next

The Zeidans and the rest of their travel group were able to safely return to Texas on Tuesday, with one member of the group having their Monday flight canceled but rescheduled for Tuesday.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that even popular tourist destinations in Mexico can be impacted by cartel-related violence, and travelers should exercise caution and stay informed of the latest developments when visiting the country.