A body has been found in the hunt for an American Airlines flight attendant who is feared to have fallen victim to a ‘devil’s breath’ spiking.
Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, went missing on Saturday night during a layover in Medellín, Colombia.
Investigators in Medellín said Gutierrez Molina went out in the El Poblado neighborhood with a male and female colleague. They met two men who suggested taking the party elsewhere.
The male colleague did not join, but Gutierrez Molina and the female coworker, identified only as Andrea, went along to another nightclub. Hours later, Andrea was found by authorities in a disoriented state and taken to the hospital.
Now, a body has been found ‘between the municipality of Jericó and Puente Iglesias,’ Mayor Fico Gutiérrez wrote on X.
‘There is a very high probability that it is this person,’ he wrote in Spanish. ‘I have just personally delivered the painful news to his father, who is in Medellín.’
Officials said during a press conference on Thursday that they have since identified the individuals, who they said have a history of stealing from tourists by spiking their drinks with scopolamine, also known as ‘devil’s breath,’ NBCDFW reported.
Scopolamine is commonly used in clinical settings to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. In higher doses, however, it can cause extreme drowsiness or even loss of consciousness.
The body of American Airlines Flight Attendant, Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, was more than likely found in Colombia, the mayor announced
Gutierrez Molina was last seen Saturday night, when he went out partying with coworkers. He is believed to may have been subject to a ‘devil’s breath’ plot, where attackers use illegal drugs to render someone unconscious
Criminals have exploited these effects to incapacitate victims or render them unusually suggestible, making them easier to manipulate.
In Colombia, offenders frequently use the drug to facilitate robberies, sexual assaults and kidnappings. This commonly occurs in nightclubs and bars in major cities such as Bogotá and Medellín.
Scopolamine is derived from a plant that is common in Colombia. The plant’s seeds can be crushed into a tasteless, odorless powder that can be easily mixed into people’s drinks.
According to the US Embassy in Colombia, the drug can leave the victim with no memory after they wake up, making it difficult for them to identify their potential attackers. It can leave a person unconscious for 24 hours or more.
Investigators have released no additional information about the people who were with Gutierrez Molina the night he disappeared, aside from noting their past use of scopolamine.
Gutiérrez promised to bring ‘justice’ for Gutierrez Molina.
‘The investigations carried out by the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office are very advanced and they would have very clear leads on those responsible,’ the mayor wrote.
‘Let justice be done.’
Ernesto Carranza, the flight attendant’s boyfriend, said he first knew something was wrong Sunday morning when he hadn’t heard from him
Investigators in Medellín said Gutierrez Molina went out in the El Poblado neighborhood with a colleagues
Ernesto Carranza, the flight attendant’s boyfriend, said he first knew something was wrong Sunday morning.
‘I knew immediately, because even though he has his own phone, his work phone could’ve been a second option of communication,’ Carranza told NBCDFW.
‘I messaged him [on Saturday night to] have a good night, be safe, I love you. And he just messaged back: “Okay, I love you back. I’m going to go out and hang with my crews.”‘
Gutierrez Molina’s father traveled to Medellín to look for his son. Authorities have said they have provided him with emotional and legal support.
