Two teenage girls have tragically lost their lives, and the suspected killer, Zulma Guzman Castro, has been caught in London after an intense international pursuit. Castro, a 54-year-old entrepreneur, is accused of poisoning the girls with raspberries laced with a deadly substance. Allegedly, she was involved in a tumultuous affair with the father of one victim.
Despite her polished image on Shark Tank, where she sought funding for her business, those who knew Castro intimately describe a different persona behind closed doors. An ex-employee claimed that Castro would dismiss staff to engage in intimate activities with her lover, Juan de Bedout, whom she tracked with a GPS device.
Castro vehemently denies the charges, labeling them as mere “gossip.” However, the case has garnered global attention. Following a dramatic confrontation where Castro jumped into the River Thames from Battersea Bridge, she was apprehended in London, potentially bringing closure to the victims’ families.
The tragic incident unfolded in Bogota, Colombia, when the girls, Ines de Bedout and Emilia Forero, innocently indulged in chocolate-covered raspberries delivered to their home. The berries, allegedly poisoned with thallium, a highly toxic metal, led to the girls’ untimely deaths and left two others injured.
The motives behind the poisoning are speculated to be linked to a past rift between Castro and Juan de Bedout, Ines’ father. Castro, acknowledging the affair with Juan, hinted at a turbulent relationship filled with jealousy and deceit. The case has prompted authorities to reexamine a previous death as a potential thallium poisoning.
Castro’s arrest in the UK concluded an extensive manhunt initiated after Interpol issued a red notice for her capture. Former employees of her car-sharing company, Car-B, depict a chaotic work environment with financial difficulties and alleged unprofessional conduct, including inappropriate relationships during work hours.
As Castro faces extradition back to Colombia, her defense against the accusations remains adamant. The public is reminded of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, underscoring the complexity and gravity of the case that continues to captivate global interest.