Two individuals have been apprehended for allegedly drugging and murdering an American Airlines flight attendant during a layover in Colombia, as reported by authorities. The suspects are believed to be affiliated with a gang that targets tourists.
The arrested men, Andrés Felipe Peña Corrales, 23, and William Olave Gamboa, 31, were taken into custody in Peru. Their arrests are linked to the March murder of Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, a 32-year-old flight attendant from Dallas, whose unexpected disappearance in Medellín launched an extensive international search.
Peña Corrales has been extradited to Colombia to face charges, whereas Olave Gamboa currently remains detained in Peru while awaiting extradition. Both suspects are facing severe charges including aggravated homicide and aggravated robbery, according to officials.
Two suspects due for extradition are shown in police custody in Peru amid accusations of being involved in the homicide of American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina. (U.S. Embassy Bogota)
Separately, a third suspect, María del Carmen González, 24, was detained in Montería, Colombia. According to investigators, while she did not play a direct role in Gutierrez Molina’s murder, she was implicated in the theft and laundering of money from foreign victims as part of the gang’s broader criminal activities.
Colombian police identified all three suspects as alleged members of Los Goteros, a criminal organization accused of targeting foreign tourists by contacting them through dating apps, gaining their trust, drugging them and stealing money, jewelry and other valuables.
According to reporting by El Colombiano, investigators believe Gutierrez Molina was contacted through a dating app before meeting several people at a nightclub in Medellín’s El Poblado neighborhood.
The group later went to a hotel, where Gutierrez Molina and his coworker were allegedly drugged before their belongings were stolen and their financial accounts were accessed, the outlet reported.
The outlet also reported that scopolamine, sometimes called “Devil’s Breath” or “Dragon’s Breath,” may have been used to incapacitate the victims, though authorities have not publicly confirmed toxicology findings 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 U.S. 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 U.S. citizens and ensure the safety of international travelers in the region,” the U.S. 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.
EXCLUSIVE: ALLEGED $32M COVID-19 FRAUD FUGITIVE CAPTURED IN JAMAICA AND RETURNED TO US, FBI SAYS
Authorities say American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina was drugged, robbed and killed after an overnight layover in Medellín, Colombia, in March 2026. (Edinson Arroyo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Gutierrez Molina disappeared in March while on an overnight layover in Medellín before he was scheduled to continue to Miami.
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.
Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, a 32-year-old flight attendant from Dallas, was reported missing in Colombia after he arrived on Saturday, March 21, according to reports. (CDColExt/X)
“We are heartbroken by the tragic passing of our colleague,” American Airlines said in a statement previously provided to News Media.
“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.