A body found in Colombia has been identified as a flight attendant from the U.S., who had gone missing in the South American country, according to his family.
Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina, a 32-year-old American Airlines flight attendant from the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, vanished after a night out with a colleague on March 21 during a layover in Medellín, his longtime partner, Ernesto Carranza, and best friend, Sharom Gil, told CBS News.
Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced on social media Friday that a “lifeless body” was found “between the municipality of Jericó and Puente Iglesias.” He said there was a “high probability” that it was Gutiérrez Molina.
“We express our solidarity to his family and friends. I have just personally delivered the painful news to his father, who is in Medellín,” the mayor said.
On Monday, Mayra Gutiérrez, Gutiérrez Molina’s sister, told NBC News the body was identified by Colombian authorities as her brother.
Gutiérrez Molina’s brother, Kelvin Gutierrez, set up a GoFundMe page for the flight attendant.
“It is with profound sadness we share the passing of Fernando Gutierrez,” the online fundraising page read. “Fernando’s personality will always be remembered as a ball of sunshine as he entered and exited a room. He will always be remembered as a docile, charismatic, goofy man who always provided a helping hand.”
The Independent has reached out to American Airlines and Gutiérrez Molina’s family for comment.
Gutiérrez Molina was born and raised in El Salvador and later became a U.S. citizen, according to the GoFundMe page. The family asked for donations to help bring Gutiérrez Molina from Colombia to Texas.
Medellín Security Secretary Manuel Villa recently said at a news conference that Gutiérrez Molina was with his colleague in Itagüí when they left one location to go to a second location in the same city with others, per NBC News.
The colleague made it back to her hotel “somewhat disoriented,” Villa said, but Gutiérrez Molina had vanished.
Villa said Gutiérrez Molina and his colleague encountered people “with a history of committing theft” using scopolamine. Scopolamine is a medication that helps with nausea and vomiting. It can cause severe dizziness and hallucinations, the Cleveland Clinic warns.
“The investigations carried out by the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office are very advanced and they would have very clear leads on those responsible,” Mayor Gutiérrez said Friday. “Let justice be done. Even, that those responsible be requested in extradition.”
American Airlines said it was “heartbroken by the tragic passing of our colleague.”
“Our thoughts and support are with his family, loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time, and we are doing all we can to assist Colombian law enforcement in its investigation,” the airline said in a statement shared with The Independent.
