A tragic incident highlighting the risks faced by tourists in Medellin has resulted in the detention of Nathalia Carolina Vargas Salcedo, who authorities believe orchestrated a deadly scheme targeting an Ecuadorian visitor during the holiday season.
The case began when Javier Vásquez Chacón, who was among the many tourists in Medellin seeking nightlife experiences, connected with Vargas Salcedo through a mobile dating application. Their initial contact led to a meeting at a nightclub in the Las Palmas area, marking the beginning of a series of events that would ultimately turn fatal.
Security footage has revealed crucial details about the night in question. While other tourists in Medellin were enjoying festive celebrations, Vásquez Chacón was captured on camera arriving at a central hotel in a white vehicle, accompanied by a group including two women and a man. Investigators have identified Vargas Salcedo among these individuals.
The prosecution presents a disturbing sequence of events: after leaving the nightclub together, the victim was allegedly drugged, rendering him unconscious. Taking advantage of his incapacitated state, the perpetrators transported him to a hotel room in La Candelaria district, where numerous tourists in Medellin typically stay. What followed was both a robbery and, ultimately, a homicide.
The financial damage was significant, with unauthorized transactions and shopping center purchases totaling over 12 million pesos made using the victim’s payment cards. More critically, when authorities discovered Vásquez Chacón’s body on December 23, evidence pointed to strangulation as the cause of death, though this wasn’t immediately apparent during the initial examination.
Adding to the family’s distress, there was a two-day delay between the discovery of the body and the notification of Vásquez Chacón’s relatives, who had reported him missing on December 22. The victim’s identity remained unknown initially due to the absence of identification documents.
The Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged Vargas Salcedo with aggravated homicide and qualified theft. Despite the evidence presented, including surveillance footage from both the nightclub and hotel, the accused has maintained her innocence. Nevertheless, a judge has ordered her detention as the investigation continues.
We are sharing these “good girl” gone robbery stories so tourists in Medellin will remember to be vigilant. People often ask “Is Medellin” safe? Well, a lot depends on what you are here to do. There are safety precautions that should be considered nobody where you are in the world!
Leave A Comment