American Airlines flight attendant's alleged killers tied to gang accused of preying on tourists: officials

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 RISKSTwo suspects arrested in Peru are seen in police custody after authorities accused them in the killing of American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina.

(U.S.Embassy Bogota)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 repor...