A Colombian businesswoman, wanted over the alleged poisoning of two schoolgirls, was dramatically rescued from the River Thames after her London hideout was reportedly given away by a simple bottle of water.
How a Bottle of Water Led to a Fugitive
Zulma Guzman Castro, 54, was pulled from the water near Battersea Bridge by the Met's Marine Policing Unit in the early hours of Tuesday, 16 December. Her discovery followed an international manhunt after she was named as the prime suspect in the deaths of two teenagers in Bogota, Colombia.
The victims, 14-year-old Ines de Bedout and her 13-year-old friend Emilia Forero, died in hospital days after eating chocolate-covered raspberries on 3 April. Forensic tests determined the fruit had been deliberately injected with thallium, a colourless, odourless heavy metal lethal in tiny doses.
Castro's potential location in the UK was flagged after she gave an exclusive interview to Focus Noticias over the weekend. Investigators and journalists noted she was constantly sipping from a bottle of Buxton Natural Mineral Water, a brand predominantly sold in British shops.
A Trail of Poison and an Alleged Affair
Colombian prosecutors allege the poisoning was an 'act of vengeance' linked to Castro's secret six-year affair with Juan de Bedout, father of victim Ines. The businesswoman, who founded a car-sharing firm called Car-B, admitted to the affair and to placing a GPS tracker on his car, but vehemently denies any involvement in the girls' deaths.
It is claimed she used a courier service to deliver the laced dessert to a luxury apartment where the girls were playing after school. Another friend and a 21-year-old brother of one victim were also hospitalised after eating the raspberries and survived, though one suffered lasting injuries.
An Interpol Red Notice was issued for Castro after she left Colombia on 13 April. She is believed to have travelled to Argentina, Brazil, and Spain before arriving in the UK on 11 November.
Arrest and Impending Extradition
Following the water bottle clue, Colombian authorities collaborated with British police. Westminster Magistrates' Court issued an arrest warrant earlier this week. After her rescue from the Thames, where she was found in distress, Castro was taken to hospital with injuries deemed not life-threatening.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the rescue and stated that Colombian authorities have made a formal request for her capture. When pronounced fit, she will face extradition proceedings at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
In a viral social media statement earlier this month, Castro proclaimed her innocence, saying, "I am a mother, and that must be unbearable pain... but I am not that culprit." The families of the victims continue to mourn their devastating loss.
