Authorities have arrested two men in Peru in connection with the March killing of Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, an American Airlines flight attendant. The suspects, identified as 23-year-old Andrés Felipe Peña Corrales and 31-year-old William Olave Gamboa, are allegedly part of a criminal organization known as Los Goteros, which is accused of targeting foreign tourists.
Peña Corrales has been transferred to Colombia to face charges, while Olave Gamboa is awaiting extradition from Peru. Both men face charges of aggravated homicide and aggravated robbery in Colombia. A third suspect, 24-year-old María del Carmen González, was arrested separately in Colombia. Investigators believe she was involved in withdrawing and moving stolen money from foreign victims as part of the group’s operations, but not directly in the killing.
Colombian police have identified all three suspects as alleged members of Los Goteros. This gang is accused of befriending tourists, often through dating apps, before drugging them and stealing their valuables and financial information. Investigators believe Gutierrez Molina was contacted through a dating app and met individuals at a nightclub in Medellín's El Poblado neighborhood before going to a hotel. There, Gutierrez Molina and a coworker were allegedly drugged, their belongings stolen, and their financial accounts accessed. Scopolamine, also known as “Devil’s Breath,” may have been used to incapacitate the victims, though authorities have not publicly confirmed toxicology results.
Gutierrez Molina, 32, a Dallas-based flight attendant, was reportedly strangled. His coworker survived the incident. Investigators allege the group stole from Gutierrez Molina's bank accounts and abandoned his body near Jericó, southwest of Medellín. His remains were discovered five days later.
The arrests followed a months-long international investigation involving U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Colombian prosecutors, and Peruvian authorities. The U.S. Embassy in Colombia stated that the collaboration between the United States, Colombia, and Peru was crucial in bringing the alleged criminals to justice and ensuring the safety of international travelers.
American Airlines issued a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss of their colleague and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. Authorities are currently working to determine if other foreign tourists were victimized by Los Goteros using a similar method.