Two men accused of drugging and killing an American Airlines flight attendant while he was on a layover in Colombia have been arrested months after his death, authorities said, as investigators link the suspects to a criminal network known for targeting tourists.
Andrés Felipe Peña Corrales, 23, and William Olave Gamboa, 31, were taken into custody in Peru in connection with the March killing of 32-year-old Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, a Dallas-based flight attendant whose disappearance in Medellín triggered an international search effort.
Peña Corrales has been extradited or transferred back to Colombia to face prosecution, while Olave Gamboa remains detained in Peru as extradition proceedings move forward. Colombian authorities said both men are facing charges that include aggravated homicide and aggravated robbery.
A third suspect, 24-year-old María del Carmen González, was arrested in a separate operation in Montería, Colombia. Investigators say she was not directly involved in Gutierrez Molina’s death but allegedly helped withdraw and move money stolen from foreign victims as part of the group’s broader scheme.
Colombian police described the three suspects as alleged members of Los Goteros, a criminal organization accused of using dating apps to approach foreign visitors, build trust, drug them and then steal cash, jewelry and other valuables.
According to El Colombiano, investigators believe Gutierrez Molina was first contacted through a dating app before he met several people at a nightclub in Medellín’s upscale El Poblado district.
The group later went to a hotel, where Gutierrez Molina and a coworker were allegedly drugged, the outlet reported. Their belongings were stolen, and their financial accounts were then accessed, investigators believe.
El Colombiano also reported that scopolamine — a powerful drug sometimes referred to as “Devil’s Breath” or “Dragon’s Breath” — may have been used to incapacitate the victims. Authorities, however, have not publicly confirmed toxicology results in the case.
Gutierrez Molina was reportedly strangled, while his coworker survived.
Investigators allege the group accessed Gutierrez Molina’s bank accounts, stole other valuables and abandoned his body near Jericó, southwest of Medellín, where it was found five days later.
The arrests capped a months-long international investigation involving US Homeland Security Investigations, Colombian prosecutors and Peruvian authorities.
“This successful outcome reflects the strong commitment of the United States, Colombia and Peru to work together to investigate and bring to justice a group of criminals in Colombia dedicated to the robbery and theft of US citizens and ensure the safety of international travelers in the region,” the US Embassy in Colombia said in a joint statement.
The embassy also recognized the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, Colombia’s National Police and Peru’s National Police for their roles in the investigation.
Friends told local media at the time that he shared his location from an Airbnb near José María Córdova International Airport before communication suddenly stopped, prompting coworkers and family members to report him missing.
Days later, Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced that authorities had recovered a body near Jericó. The remains were later identified as Gutierrez Molina.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic passing of our colleague,” American Airlines said in a statement previously provided to Fox News Digital.
“Our thoughts and support are with his family, loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time, and we are doing all we can to assist Colombian law enforcement in its investigation.”
Authorities said investigators are working to determine whether additional foreign tourists were victimized by Los Goteros using the same alleged scheme.
