Nathaniel Janowitz
Reporter
nathaniel.janowitz@vice.comNathaniel is running around the Americas for VICE News covering everything from the environment to drugs, politics, and weird crime.
The Beloved Mexican Whistle That Means ‘Fuck You’
It’s probably impossible to find a Mexican that doesn’t recognize the shrill sound of the “chinga tu madre” whistle. How it’s used can cause people to either laugh or fight.
Someone Tried to Mail a Teddy Bear Stuffed With ‘Purple Drank’ in Mexico
Lean, also referred to as "purple drank", "purp", and "sizzurp," is a combination of cough syrup, candy and soda that first became popular in the Houston hip hop scene.
41 Dead, Most Burned to Death, in Gang Attack in Honduras Women’s Prison
Over two dozen of the female victims were reportedly burned to death, while the remainder were shot or stabbed. The government says street gangs Barrio 18 and MS-13 are to blame.
Mexico Just Destroyed 14 Homemade Narco Tanks
The improvised vehicles, popular with criminal groups, were wrecked by the government in the northern state of Tamaulipas.
Flight Attendant Charged For Bomb Threat to Stop Her Ex’s Vacation
Daniela Carbone, 47, allegedly threatened to blow up the plane to stop her ex-boyfriend’s vacation to Miami with his new girlfriend.
A ‘Dead’ Woman Came Back to Life During Her Wake
76-year-old Bella Montoya was discovered gasping for air inside her coffin hours after being declared dead by doctors in Ecuador.
An Italian Woman Was Murdered in a Daytime Hit At a Popular Mexican Restaurant
Three men were arrested this week for allegedly being involved in the execution of 40-year-old Ornella Saiu.
A Teen Girl Set Her Dorm On Fire After Her Phone Was Confiscated. 19 Children Died.
The tragedy happened in the South American nation of Guyana, and the girl has been charged as an adult with 19 counts of murder.
Someone Tried to Ship 50 Bricks of Swastika-Branded Cocaine to Europe
Police in Peru seized the Nazi-branded cocaine, some of which also bore the word "HITLER."
Cancun is Banning ‘Narco’ Concerts as Violence Soars
Performances by El Komander, Grupo Firme, El Millonario and Alemán were recently cancelled in the tourist resort in an attempt to discourage the drug-related violence that is raging.
Two Tourists Were Murdered in Oaxaca’s Once Peaceful Beach Area in a Week
The murder of a Canadian man in Puerto Escondido came just days after an Argentine tourist was killed with a machete on the same coast.
The Prime Suspect in One of the Biggest Mysteries of Past 20 Years to be Extradited to US
Peru approved the extradition of Joran van der Sloot for alleged crimes related to the disappearance of 18-year-old American student Natalee Holloway.