A Colombian businesswoman accused of murdering two schoolgirls with poisoned chocolate-covered raspberries has been tracked down to London in a dramatic international manhunt, after a simple water bottle inadvertently revealed her hiding place.
The Fatal Dessert and a Flight from Justice
Zulma Guzman Castro, 54, is wanted in her home country of Colombia for the alleged poisoning of two teenagers, 14-year-old Ines de Bedout and 13-year-old Emilia Forero. The girls are said to have consumed raspberries laced with the heavy metal thallium, a toxic substance often used in rodent poison.
Colombian authorities allege the act was one of vengeance linked to Castro's past affair with Ines's father, Juan de Bedout. Following the deaths, an Interpol Red Notice was issued for Castro's arrest, triggering a global search. She initially fled Colombia, with early speculation suggesting she may have been in Argentina.
How a Buxton Water Bottle Gave Away Her Location
The crucial break in the case came from an unlikely source. Over the weekend, Castro gave an exclusive interview to the Colombian news outlet Focus Noticias. During the broadcast, she was seen repeatedly drinking from a bottle of Buxton Natural Mineral Water.
This detail was quickly picked up by the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo and investigators. A source noted that while the water can be bought online, the specific bottle size she used is commonly sold in UK street shops, suggesting she was residing in a private apartment or house, not a hotel. This clue led authorities to pivot their search to the United Kingdom.
In her interview, Castro admitted to the six-year affair with Juan de Bedout and confessed to placing a GPS tracker on his car out of jealousy, but she strongly denied any involvement in the schoolgirls' deaths.
Dramatic River Rescue and Pending Extradition
The investigation culminated in the early hours of Tuesday, 16 December. Metropolitan Police were called at approximately 06:45 to reports of a woman in distress on Battersea Bridge. The force's Marine Policing Unit located and rescued a woman in her 50s from the River Thames at 07:14.
The woman was confirmed to be Zulma Guzman Castro. She was taken to hospital for treatment, where her injuries were assessed as not life-threatening or life-changing. Her rescue followed the issuance of an arrest warrant by Westminster Magistrates' Court, acting on a formal request from Colombian authorities.
Castro is now expected to face extradition proceedings to return her to Colombia to stand trial, once she is deemed medically fit to travel. The case highlights the extensive reach of international police cooperation and how the smallest detail can unravel a fugitive's carefully constructed hiding place.
