Police in Colombia say they have discovered the body of a Medellin prosecutor, who has been missing since Saturday, on the side of a highway, Bogota’s El Tiempo newspaper reported late on Wednesday.
According to the El Tiempo newspaper, police have found the dismembered body of Felix Horacio Garcia, a 56-year-old Medellin-based prosecutor.
Garcia’s remains were found in three suitcases on the main highway between Medellin and the Colombian capital, Bogota.
A 32-year-old law student, Carlos Andres Mayo, is the only suspect to have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Mayo was allegedly identified by a witness and arrested on Wednesday following a raid on an apartment in a Medellin suburb. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was under house arrest for previous aggravated theft charge.
According to police, extensive evidence was found linking Mayo to the crime. Investigators believe that Garcia was held captive for a number of days and killed in the apartment. Authorities allegedly found an axe and a saw that were used in the crime, as well as the victim’s debit card and work identification.
The prosecutor had been missing since Saturday in what authorities believe was a “Millionaire” related crime. The “millionaire’s ride” is a relatively regular occurrence, particularly in Bogota. The crime usually consists of a taxi driver picking up accomplices who proceed to take a victim’s valuables and force them to withdraw cash from ATMs until the withdrawal limit is reached.
MORE: Colombia considers new bill to prevent ‘millionaires rides’
Investigators have determined that Garcia’s credit card and debit cards were emptied in the days following the kidnapping. According to El Tiempo, authorities also alleged that the victim was beaten, tortured an sprayed with acid.
Mayo, a fourth year law student, has not confessed to the charges against him, which include aggravated homicide, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and forced disappearance.
Two other suspects are being sought in relation to the crime.
Sources
Imputan cuatro cargos a supuesto asesino de fiscal (El Tiempo)
