## Colombian Woman Sought in Thallium Poisonings Found in London, faces Extradition
A Colombian woman, Zulma guzmán Castro, wanted by Interpol in connection with the poisoning deaths of two girls, was located by London authorities last Tuesday, December 16th, after a reported suicide attempt.Her capture initiates a complex extradition process that could take up to a year.
The search for Guzmán, 54, began after she was identified as a suspect in the April poisoning of two young girls with thallium in Bogotá, Colombia. London’s Maritime Police discovered Guzmán near the River Thames around 7 a.m. local time, responding to reports of a potential suicide.An hour later, authorities confirmed her identity as the woman Interpol had been seeking.
Investigators quickly established that Guzmán had been in the United Kingdom since November 11th, following an immigration analysis conducted jointly by Interpol Colombia and the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office. A cell phone linked to Guzmán was also being tracked, with messages sent to Colombia claiming the accusations against her were fabricated.
News of Guzmán’s location and subsequent apprehension reached Bogotá through ongoing judicial and diplomatic cooperation. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that extradition proceedings have begun, though the process is expected to be lengthy, potentially taking up to a year due to legal complexities in both countries.
The initial investigation revealed that Forero, Guzmán’s daughter, identified only as Forero, was the first to succumb to the poison after eating eight thallium-contaminated strawberries. Another young girl, Bermúdez, is currently recovering in Chicago from severe injuries sustained after consuming three of the poisoned raspberries. The potency of the thallium dose was so high that the Prosecutor’s Office has ordered a review of all shipments made by Guzmán.
According to a judicial police report,Guzmán purchased two packages of raspberries on April 6th – the first at 1:53 p.m. and the second two hours later, along with onions, tomatoes, and avocados, for a total of 29,900 pesos. Investigators have questioned De Bedout about individuals who may have received other shipments from Guzmán, learning he recognized a first name but did not know the full identities of the recipients.
The investigation has expanded to include the case of Alicia Graham Sardi, De bedout’s wife, who died of cancer but was reportedly poisoned with thallium twice prior to her death. Blood tests revealed the presence of the poison in both De Bedout and his eldest son. The Prosecutor’s Office is now investigating weather the thallium was introduced into the De Bedout family’s farms in Sutatausa or Ubaté during the pandemic, when they were largely isolated. Authorities are also looking into a stroke suffered by a De Bedout employee years ago, as rumored among friends of the deceased girls.
Further complicating the case, investigators are analyzing messages sent by Guzmán from multiple cell phones, in which she denies any involvement in the poisonings. Her statements to the media outlet Focus Noticias are also being scrutinized, with initial analysis suggesting inconsistencies and attempts to downplay certain events.For example, Guzmán reportedly claimed she found it amusing to place a tracker on De Bedout’s car, a claim De Bedout dismissed when shown video evidence.
Guzmán also justified the raspberry purchases as part of her regular diet and falsely claimed that polo horses owned by De Bedout had been poisoned with thallium. Though, she did acknowledge learning of Alicia Graham’s death from the same poison, the sale of which is illegal in Colombia.
Adding another layer to the legal proceedings, renowned criminal lawyer Fabio Humar – representing Juan de Bedout – confirmed that Guzmán contacted him approximately a month ago from Spain. He terminated the call when she began to discuss the details of the case, instantly informing the Prosecutor’s Office.
Through ongoing judicial and diplomatic cooperation, Colombian authorities are preparing to request Guzmán’s extradition. She has reportedly retained at least three lawyers to represent her, but is not expected to pursue legal action to delay her return to Colombia. Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether at least three associates of Guzmán were involved in the shipment of the poisoned raspberries, with the delivery address proving to be a key source of information regarding those who monitored the delivery and ensured its arrival.
