A chilling tale unfolded this morning with the rescue of Zulma Guzman Castro from the River Thames. The woman, wanted in connection with a horrific crime, was found near Battersea Bridge in west London, sparking a wave of questions and renewed grief.
Castro is accused of a calculated act of vengeance – the poisoning of two young girls, Ines de Bedout, 14, and Emilia Forero, 13, with a deadly substance slipped into chocolate-covered raspberries. The girls, close friends, succumbed to the effects of thallium, a colorless and odorless heavy metal, days after enjoying the seemingly innocent treat.
The tragedy struck in Bogota, Colombia, seven months ago, leaving a community shattered and a father, Pedro Forero, grappling with unimaginable loss. Before Castro’s identity as a suspect emerged, Forero poured out his anguish, describing his daughter as a life brimming with potential, cruelly extinguished.
“She did not just take away my dreams,” he lamented, “but my daughter’s opportunity to be a girlfriend, a professional, a wife, a mother.” His words echo the profound devastation felt by all who knew Emilia, a girl remembered as his “greatest love.”
Authorities believe the poisoning was linked to a secret affair Castro allegedly had with the father of one of the victims, Juan de Bedout. The motive, investigators suggest, was a desperate attempt to inflict pain on her former lover through the suffering of his children.
Following the deaths, Castro fled Colombia, triggering an international manhunt. An Interpol Red Notice was issued earlier this month, revealing her travels through Brazil, Spain, and ultimately, the United Kingdom. She arrived in Britain on November 11th, and authorities were actively searching for her.
The discovery of Castro in the Thames raises more questions than answers. While her injuries are not life-threatening, the circumstances surrounding her presence in the river remain unclear. The investigation continues, seeking to unravel the full extent of this heartbreaking case and bring closure to the families left behind.
Thallium, the substance used in the alleged poisoning, is a rarely used poison typically found in industrial applications – electronics manufacturing and optical lenses. Its deliberate use as a weapon speaks to a chilling level of premeditation and malice.
Two others – a teenage girl and the 21-year-old brother of one of the victims – also fell ill after consuming the poisoned raspberries, surviving but reportedly suffering lasting health consequences. The full scope of Castro’s alleged actions continues to unfold, painting a disturbing picture of betrayal and loss.
