In a chilling incident that occurred in December of last year, John Poulos, a 35-year-old American citizen, is now confronted with the possibility of serving more than 35 years in prison as Colombian prosecutors accuse him of the murder of his 21-year-old Colombian girlfriend and DJ, Valentina Trespalacios.
This gruesome case has ignited fury and disbelief within Colombia and has garnered international attention. Following a tweet posted by Poulos in December. The tweet, which resurfaced recently, was in response to a viral Twitter challenge. On December 17, 2022, a Twitter user prompted others to share their “craziest first date” experiences.
In reply, Poulos posted a selfie with his girlfriend and disclosed, “Invited a Colombian woman on vacation without meeting her first. Now we’re getting married.” Tragically, just a little over a month later, on January 22, 2023, Valentina Trespalacios lost her life under disturbing circumstances.
Who was Valentina Trespalacios and why would John Poulos want her dead?
Valentina Trespalacios was a talented DJ specializing in the dance genre guaracha, with a promising music career ahead. She had been recognized at the Colombia Dance Awards and was working on her debut album. Valentina performed with renowned international artists like Steve Aoki and Erik Morillo. Earning her a reputation as one of Colombia’s top young DJs.
She met John Poulos on Tinder in April 2022. He made multiple trips to Colombia to see her over the following months. They were planning to buy a house and get married. However, in the weeks leading up to her murder, Poulos displayed signs of jealousy, controlling behavior, and even hiring a private investigator to trail Valentina to Aruba.
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So what exactly did John Poulus have to do with the death of Valentina Trespalacios?
Days before her death, Poulos returned to Colombia after allegedly learning about Valentina’s interaction with another man in Aruba. He became enraged, and they moved into a short-term rental. On the night of January 20, Valentina performed at a Bogota nightclub and spoke to her brother via video call for the last time. Tragically, the next day, Poulos violently killed her at their apartment.
After committing the crime, Poulos was captured on surveillance footage leaving the apartment with a large blue suitcase. Which he later abandoned in a dumpster. Valentina’s remains were found in the south of Bogotá.
Attempting to escape justice, Poulos fled to Panama and was arrested just before boarding a flight to Istanbul. Where he was intending to reach Montenegro, which lacked an extradition treaty with Colombia, he initially blamed the Medellin Cartel for the murder but was later charged with femicide.
According to the prosecution, a surveillance camera near the apartment captured Poulos using a supermarket trolley to transport luggage bags. One of which shockingly contained the lifeless body of his girlfriend, concealed with a blanket but with her head still visible.
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The footage shows the man believed to be John Poulos struggling to lift the luggage bag before eventually placing it in the trunk of his rented Volkswagen Voyage car, which was parked next to the trolley.
He abandoned the suitcase containing his girlfriend’s lifeless body in a dumpster on the south side of Bogotá. A homeless individual searching for recyclables made a grim discovery on the same day. Subsequent autopsy reports verified that Valentina Trespalacios died due to strangulation and blunt force trauma, confirming the brutality of her death.
Meanwhile, John Poulos attempted to flee the country on January 24 by heading to El Dorado International Airport. However, authorities managed to apprehend him just moments before he could fly to Turkey. It was revealed that he allegedly planned to travel from Turkey to Montenegro, a country that lacks an extradition treaty with Colombia.
Since January 25, Poulos has been in custody. Prosecutors are determined to secure a conviction that could see him sentenced to at least 35 years behind bars for the heinous killing.
In March, José Martínez, the director of the prosecution office in the Colombian capital, expressed confidence in winning the trial against John Poulos, citing the presence of “compelling technical evidence.” He conveyed that they are seeking the harshest penalty with all possible aggravating circumstances, aiming for a sentence of more than 35 years in prison. The prosecution intends to set an example with this case, sending a clear message to the city of Bogotá.
During the trial, his defense sought a more lenient sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. The trial was delayed due to claims of inadequate translation services while in custody, and Poulos was allegedly assaulted in his cell. Poulos had a history of posting misogynistic “jokes” on social media and frequently retweeted a controversial influencer facing serious charges. His violent actions have sparked widespread outrage in Colombia.
John Poulos was arraigned in a Colombian court on April 14, and during this process, his defense team argued that his arrest was illegal, and he allegedly endured inhumane treatment, as reported by CBS58. The trial officially commenced on April 17, and the attorney’s general office requested an even more severe sentence of 50 years. The proceedings will determine the fate of Poulos and will be a critical moment in seeking justice for the tragic death of Valentina Trespalacios.
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Sources
- “He boasted about an epic first date on Twitter. Now he’s charged with his fiancée’s murder.” The Independent. July 18, 2023.
- “An American Allegedly Murdered His DJ Girlfriend in Colombia. Then He Tried to Flee.” Vice. Nathaniel Janowitz. January 31, 2023
- “‘Teenage boy’ who got adopted turned out to be 33-year-old woman on the run.” Lad Bible. Jess Hardiman. July 18, 2023.