Two men accused of drugging and killing an American Airlines flight attendant during a layover in Colombia have been arrested months after the slaying, authorities said, with the suspects allegedly tied to a gang known to prey on tourists.
Andrés Felipe Peña Corrales, 23, and William Olave Gamboa, 31, were captured in Peru in connection with the March killing of Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, a Dallas-based flight attendant whose disappearance in Medellín sparked an international search.
Peña Corrales has since been transferred to Colombia to face charges, while Olave Gamboa remains in Peruvian custody awaiting extradition proceedings. Both men face charges including aggravated homicide and aggravated robbery in Colombia, according to authorities.
AMERICANS WARNED POPULAR TRAVEL ROUTES THIS SUMMER COULD CARRY CRIME AND KIDNAPPING RISKS
A third suspect, María del Carmen González, 24, was arrested separately in Montería, Colombia. Investigators allege she was not directly involved in Gutierrez Molina’s killing but participated in withdrawing and moving money stolen from foreign victims as part of the group’s operation.
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.
DATING-APP CHARMER ACCUSED OF MURDER AFTER HISTORY OF DOMESTIC ARRESTS INVOLVING WOMEN HE MET ONLINE
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
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.
"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.
Fox News Digital's Alex Koch and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
