Body found in Colombia confirmed as missing American Airlines flight attendant

31 Mar 2026 • 7:50 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina, a 32-year-old American Airlines flight attendant from Texas, vanished on March 21 during a layover in Medellín, Colombia.
  • His body was discovered between the municipality of Jericó and Puente Iglesias and was officially identified by Colombian authorities and his family on Monday.
  • Gutiérrez Molina was last seen with a colleague in Itagüí, Medellín, before he disappeared, while his colleague returned to her hotel disoriented.
  • Authorities believe Gutiérrez Molina and his colleague encountered individuals known for theft who used scopolamine, a drug causing severe dizziness and hallucinations.
  • Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez stated that investigations are advanced with clear leads on those responsible, and American Airlines expressed condolences, assisting law enforcement.

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