State prosecutors in Quintana Roo activated a formal search protocol this week for Michelle Boonen, a foreign national whose last known contact was in Tulum on February 5.
The Fiscalía General del Estado issued a search alert under the Alba Quintana Roo Protocol on May 6, approximately three months after Boonen's last confirmed contact. Her phone continued receiving messages until March 17, though the circumstances surrounding the loss of communication remain unclear. The case has been assigned file number 34/FDC/2026 and is being handled under protocols established by federal law governing cases of missing persons.
Physical Description and Known Details
According to the official alert, Boonen is described as having light skin, a slim build, medium-length brown hair, and dark brown eyes. She is approximately 1.62 meters tall and weighs around 50 kilograms. Authorities did not provide information on distinguishing marks or the clothing she was wearing at the time of her disappearance.
The Fiscalía did not release details on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance or the specific location in Tulum where she was last seen or contacted.

Timeline and Search Efforts
The gap between Boonen's last contact in early February and the formal activation of the search protocol in early May suggests a complex case timeline. Authorities have not disclosed what led to the formal missing person report or whether there are active leads in the investigation.
Boonen is currently classified as "no localizada" (not located) under the Ley General en Materia de Desaparición Forzada de Personas y Desaparición Cometida por Particulares, the federal framework governing missing person cases in Mexico.
Search operations are being conducted in accordance with state protocols, though prosecutors have not disclosed specific areas of focus or investigative details.
Public Assistance Requested
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could help locate Boonen to contact the Quintana Roo missing persons unit at 998 881 7150, extension 2130.
The Alba Quintana Roo Protocol is the state's formalized response system for missing person cases, designed to coordinate search efforts across agencies and jurisdictions. The protocol is activated when a person is reported missing and remains unaccounted for despite initial search efforts.
What role should communities play when authorities request assistance in active missing person cases? Join the conversation and share your perspective with us on Instagram and Facebook at @thetulumtimes.
