Zulma Guzmán Castro is wanted in 196 countries for allegedly poisoning two teenagers after having a relationship with the dad of one of the girls. She denies the charges against her
A businesswoman has been accused of killing two schoolgirls with poison-laced chocolate raspberries after a secret affair with the dad of one of the girls. Zulma Guzmán Castro, who denies the charges she faces, is wanted by police in 196 countries for allegedly poisoning Ines de Bedout, 14, and her friend Emilia Forero, 13.
Guzmán Castro is accused of co-ordinating the delivery of chocolate-covered raspberries to the girls, who died in hospital days after eating them, reports ElColombiano.
They and another friend were staying in the apartment with a 21-year-old man, the older brother of one of the girls, in Bogota, Colombia, when they received the delivery in April this year. At first they are said to have refused the delivery, as they weren’t expecting it but after the delivery person insisted, they agreed to accept it.
After eating the fruit, they began to feel ill and all four were taken to hospital. One girl died the same day, while the other died four days later. The other girl and the older brother thankfully survived, although the girl is said to have lasting injuries.
Investigations later revealed that the raspberries had been injected thallium, a colourless, odourless and tasteless toxic metal, which can be fatal when ingested.
Following the test results, Colombia’s prosecution service asked Interpol to arrest Guzmán Castro, reports The Mirror. The founder of the car-sharing company Car-B, she is said to have left Colombia, travelling through Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the UK.
According to ElColombiano, a WhatsApp message was shared from an Argentine number, in which she is said to have denied the allegations against her, refuted that she had fled the country and claimed that she was never informed of any investigation. The message also referred to her “secret relationship” with the father of one of the girls.
The message read: “Hello everyone. I find myself in the middle of a very serious situation, where I am being publicly accused of having sent poison that killed some girls a few months ago. I imagine the rumour is spreading like wildfire.
“I am being publicly accused of having fled to Argentina, then to Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Those who know me know that I didn’t flee anywhere. They know I’ve been working in Argentina and began a masters in journalism here.
“I went to Spain more than a month ago, with a stopover in Brazil, and then to the UK because of my son. I imagine they’re accusing me because I had a secret relationship with the father of one of the girls.
“The Prosecutor’s Office never informed me of any investigation, and I sent a lawyer friend yesterday to inquire, since I heard a rumour that they were talking about me. The next day the media accused me, and just like that, what’s the point of a trial? I hope those who know me will support me and, in some way, defend me.”
A Red Notice police in Interpol’s 196 member countries to locate and detain Guzman, although her current whereabouts are unknown, according to LadBible.
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