Three arrested for murder of American Airlines employee in Medellín
Authorities arrested two men and a woman accused of the homicide of Eric Gutiérrez, an American Airlines employee and US citizen who went missing in Medellín on 22 March.
Alleged perpetrators of murder of US airline employee arrested in Medellín
According to noticiascaracol.com, the mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, confirmed the arrest of two men and a woman allegedly responsible for the murder of Eric Gutiérrez, an American Airlines employee and US citizen. The three attempted to flee the country, but their escape was thwarted thanks to a joint operation by authorities from Colombia, Peru and the United States.
Eric Gutiérrez was last seen on 22 March 2026. He had arrived in Medellín the day before on a work stopover. On Saturday night he spent time with a fellow airline employee in the city; hours later he was reported missing. The colleague arrived at the hotel disoriented, which raised alerts about possible use of scopolamine. Gutiérrez's body was found five days later, on 27 March, in a rural area of Jericó.
The Legal Medicine institute determined that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia. Authorities established that whilst Gutiérrez was under the influence of a chemical substance administered in a motel, those responsible made bank withdrawals and stole goods worth approximately 30 million pesos.
The three arrested were allegedly members of a gang called "Los Goteros", which is dedicated to contacting foreigners through digital platforms to gain their trust and arrange meetings. Once victims fell under the influence of chemical substances, the criminals would rob them of high-value goods.
The HSI agency located a 23-year-old man in Peru, who had initially fled to Ecuador and was tracked down through an Interpol blue notice. In Lima, another 31-year-old suspect was detained while proceedings advanced for his transfer to Colombia. The third detainee, a woman, was arrested in Montería, accused of moving the resources stolen from foreigners.
The United States Embassy in Colombia confirmed the arrest of the men and highlighted the joint work between the authorities of both countries and Peru. The two men arrested could face extradition to the United States.
The charges brought against the two men include aggravated homicide, qualified theft and aggravated theft. The woman is to face charges for theft by electronic means and similar offences. The investigation remains open to identify other members of the criminal organisation, and judicial proceedings are pending.
Source: Google News CO — Crime