Body With ‘Very High Probability’ of Being Missing American Airlines Flight Attendant Found in Colombia
Colombian authorities have found a body in an area between Jericó and Puente Iglesias in Antioquia that Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez says has a "very high probability" of being missing American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, who vanished after a layover following a night out with colleagues in Medellín. Formal identification is still pending, and American Airlines says it is working with local law enforcement and supporting the family.
📌 Key Facts
- Colombian authorities have found a body believed to be missing American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina.
- The remains were discovered between the municipality of Jericó and Puente Iglesias in Antioquia, Colombia.
- Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and other local officials say there is a "very high probability" the body is Gutierrez Molina, but formal identification is still pending.
- Gutierrez Molina disappeared during a layover after a night out with colleagues in Medellín.
- American Airlines says it is working with local law enforcement and supporting the family; the airline declined to provide additional comment to Fox News.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, more than 30 tourists were found dead under suspicious circumstances in Medellín, representing a 30% increase compared to the previous year.
[2026] Is Colombia a dangerous country? | History — Visit My Colombia
Medellín recorded 300 homicides in 2024, resulting in a homicide rate of 11.04 per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest since 1942.
Medellín Records Lowest Homicide Rate in 82 Years — Medellín Rainbow
Colombia's national homicide rate increased slightly to 25.8 per 100,000 people in 2025, up from 25.3 in 2024.
InSight Crime's 2025 Homicide Round-Up — InSight Crime
Estimates of enforced disappearances in Colombia range from 98,000 to 200,000, with incidents continuing despite the 2016 peace deal.
Colombia: Enforced disappearances not legacy of the past but daily reality — Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Common crimes against travelers in Colombia include muggings, assaults, and the use of sedatives like scopolamine administered via dating apps or encounters, leading to robbery, sexual assault, or other crimes.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that the assessment of a 'very high probability' the body is Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina is specifically attributed to Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez.
- Pins the discovery location more precisely as between the municipality of Jericó and Puente Iglesias in Antioquia, Colombia.
- Notes that American Airlines has reiterated it is working with local law enforcement and supporting the family, though it declined fresh comment to Fox for this piece.
- CBS video segment reiterates that Colombian authorities have found a body believed to be missing American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina.
- Confirms he disappeared during a layover after a night out with colleagues in Medellín.
- Re-emphasizes that formal identification is still pending even as local officials publicly signal high confidence the body is his.