An American tourist was found dead inside an apartment he was renting in Medellin, Colombia on Monday afternoon. The man was identified as Nicolas Vincent Flattes, 56, from Springfield, Massachusetts.

According to Daily Mail, Flattes had been renting the apartment in the Medellin town of Belen since September 22. Concerned neighbors found the American man lying on his bed and immediately called the police, who said he was already in a state of decomposition.

Strong Odor Emanated From American Man's Apartment in Colombia

Nicolas Vincent Flattes, who used to visit Colombia regularly, had rented out an apartment on the fifth floor of the residential building in Belen town. He apparently made friends with some of his neighbors, who became worried after they had not seen the American tourist since the middle of last week.

Residents tried to call him through his cell phone, but he would not answer any of their calls, prompting them to report him missing. Neighbors decided to enter his apartment after it started to smell foul. Once inside, they found Flattes already dead.

According to Infobae, residents immediately called the Aburra Valley Metropolitan Police as soon as they saw his lifeless body. After an initial inspection of the body of the American tourist, the Attorney General's Office said they found no signs of violence. An autopsy to determine the cause of death is still pending.

El Colombiano reported that the Massachusetts native frequently visited Colombia.  He was often linked to athletic activities and already visited the country in 2018 and 2021. He also traveled to Mexico and Brazil. Flattes is reportedly an avid traveler who documented his trips on Facebook.

READ NEXT: Colombia to Restart Peace Talks With ELN Rebels

Police in Colombia Say 27 Foreign Tourists Have Already Died in Aburra Valley This Year

Nicolas Vincent Flattes is the latest foreigner found dead in the vicinity of Aburra Valley. His death is of major concern to Colombian authorities as 27 deaths of foreign tourists have already been reported in the Aburrá Valley this year.

The Aburra Valley Metropolitan Police said 25 of them were found in Medellin. A man identified as Leon Victor Dean, 59, of the United Kingdom, was found dead in his hotel room in the neighborhood of El Poblado in Medellin on January 5. He was discovered dead in the jacuzzi of his room.

In February, a 48-year-old Canadian man was also found dead inside a hotel in the Laureles neighborhood in Medellin. There have also been a high number of crimes directed at tourists, with the police, prosecutor's office, and Medellin Mayor's office all working together to bring down criminals targeting them.

These criminals reportedly use apps such as Tinder to target foreign victims and rob them. The Aburra Valley Metropolitan Police recently captured five of these criminals as they tried to rob foreign tourists. They arrested three women and two men, all of whom were reportedly part of a gang dedicated to extorting foreigners.

READ MORE: Antony Blinken in Colombia: U.S. Backs Gustavo Petro's 'Holistic' Approach to Fighting Drugs

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Missing American Found Dead Inside Apartment in Medellin Colombia - Nicholas Flattes - From dcbornrob - Erasing Borders