Hunting the Hunter: Tracking Down ”The Beast” Serial Killer of Latin America

Warning:

This podcast episode discusses details of true crimes that may be triggering or upsetting for some listeners. We encourage anyone who has been the victim of a crime or who needs support to please reach out to local law enforcement, mental health professionals, or support groups. Listener discretion is advised as this podcast deals with homicide, sexual assault and torture.

I didn't set out to tell a story about serial killers. But after learning about this monster, I had to tell the story of perhaps the most prolific and brutal serial killer in modern history.

On Abril 22, 1999 in a rural area of Colombia a man kidnapped a child--that he planned to rape and murder. A young man who heard the child’s cries for help saved the child by throwing rocks at the attacker, who managed to escape. After police learned what happened, a manhunt was organized using police cars, taxis and private vehicles, and the attacker was arrested as he came out of a field outside of town.

This was April…the attacker was held under suspicion until October 1999, and by that time he had confessed and given vital information on the brutal rape, torture, mutilation and murder of 147 minors, mostly young men and boys in Western Colombia, making him one of the world’s most prolific serial killers in modern history.