Authorities have arrested two men accused of drugging and killing an American Airlines flight attendant during a layover in Colombia. The suspects, believed to be linked to a gang that preys on tourists, were apprehended months after the crime.
Arrests in Peru and Colombia
Andrés Felipe Peña Corrales, 23, and William Olave Gamboa, 31, were captured in Peru for the March killing of Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32. Gutierrez Molina, a Dallas-based flight attendant, went missing in Medellín, sparking an international search.
Peña Corrales has been transferred to Colombia for trial, while Olave Gamboa remains in Peru, awaiting extradition. Both face charges of aggravated homicide and robbery in Colombia.
Authorities warned that popular travel routes this summer could pose crime and kidnapping risks.
A third suspect, María del Carmen González, 24, was arrested in Montería, Colombia. She allegedly played a role in withdrawing and transferring money stolen from foreign victims, though not in the killing itself.
The Alleged Scheme
Colombian police identified the suspects as part of Los Goteros, a criminal group accused of targeting foreign tourists through dating apps. They allegedly drug their victims and steal money, jewelry, and valuables.
According to El Colombiano, investigators believe that Gutierrez Molina was contacted via a dating app, later meeting several individuals at a nightclub in Medellín. Gutierrez Molina and a coworker were reportedly drugged at a hotel, after which their belongings were stolen.
Investigators suspect the use of scopolamine, known as ‘Devil’s Breath’, though toxicology results have not been confirmed. Gutierrez Molina was strangled, but his coworker survived.
Investigation and International Cooperation
The suspects accessed Gutierrez Molina’s bank accounts, stole other valuables, and left his body near Jericó, where it was found five days later. The arrests were the result of an international investigation involving U.S. Homeland Security, Colombian prosecutors, and Peruvian authorities.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombia hailed the joint effort, underscoring the importance of cooperation in bringing the criminals to justice and ensuring traveler safety.
The embassy expressed gratitude to Medellín’s Mayor’s Office and the national police of Colombia and Peru for their roles in the investigation.
Details of the Disappearance
Gutierrez Molina disappeared on an overnight layover in Medellín, scheduled to continue to Miami. His final communication was a location shared from an Airbnb near José María Córdova International Airport, before he stopped responding. Authorities confirmed his body was found near Jericó days later.
American Airlines mourned the loss, expressing condolences to his family and commitment to aiding the investigation.
Authorities are investigating if additional tourists were victimized by Los Goteros.
Stepheny Price reports on West Coast and Midwest news, focusing on crime stories, missing persons, and border security.
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