On the morning of January 22, 2023, a Colombian sanitation worker made a horrifying discovery near Bogotá Park that would soon rock the nation.
As he dug through a dumpster, something caught his eye — a blue suitcase wrapped in black tape, surrounded by trash bags. But what stopped him cold… was the sight of a human head peeking out from under the lid.
Inside the suitcase was the lifeless body of 23-year-old Valentina Trespalacios, a rising DJ, beloved daughter, and social media personality with a bright future. The worker, overwhelmed with fear, drove away before calling the police.
When officers arrived, they found her stuffed inside the suitcase, fully clothed in a nightgown with no signs of gunshots or stab wounds. Instead, the condition of her body pointed to strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a possible attack while she was asleep.
Who Was Valentina Trespalacios?
Valentina was more than just a student of commerce and international business — she was an award-winning amateur DJ, celebrated across Colombia and beyond. Her career had taken her to over 20 cities, and she had shared stages with some of the biggest names in electronic music across Latin America.
People described her as cheerful, vibrant, and full of energy — the kind of soul who lit up any party or gathering.
The Relationship That Turned Deadly
Valentina had been dating John Poulos, a U.S. citizen she met online in late 2021. While he appeared generous — even funding her cosmetic surgeries — his jealousy grew increasingly toxic.
Poulos allegedly hired a private investigator to track Valentina's movements and grew paranoid anytime she was away. Despite her family's concerns, she stayed in the relationship.
In January 2023, John traveled to Bogotá, rented an apartment, and prepared for a life with Valentina. But hidden beneath the surface was a storm no one could have predicted.
The Last Hours
On the evening of January 21, Valentina was seen entering the new apartment with John. Later that night, they attended a club where she performed as a guest DJ. Surveillance footage showed the couple happy, even affectionate.
But that would be the last time anyone saw Valentina alive.
By 9:00 AM the next day, Poulos was caught on camera carrying a large, heavy suitcase covered with a gray blanket. He appeared nervous, pacing, scanning for witnesses, and eventually loaded it into a silver sedan — the very suitcase later found in the dumpster.
The Aftermath
The next day, Poulos deleted all his social media accounts and vanished. Colombian authorities launched a manhunt, placing him on Interpol’s wanted list.
He was finally captured in Panama, attempting to board a flight to Turkey on January 24.
Inside Valentina’s suitcase were not just her remains, but key personal items left intact — a student ID, personal documents — strange oversights for a calculated killer.
Forensic reports confirmed she died from mechanical asphyxiation — in plain terms, she was strangled to death, likely while asleep.
The World Asks: Why?
Valentina’s murder is more than a criminal case — it's a tragedy that reminds us how easily jealousy, control, and obsession can wear the mask of love. She had dreams, talent, fans, and a bright future. One she’ll never get to see.
Now, her family and an
entire country demand justice — and answers.
.png)
0 Comments