Zulma Guzman Castro, a former contestant on Shark Tank Colombia, has been arrested in London for allegedly killing two teenage girls with poisoned raspberries. The 54-year-old was pulled out of the River Thames in December after jumping from Battersea Bridge. She was later taken into police custody on January 5 after being treated at a psychiatric hospital. UK authorities are now holding Castro while Colombia seeks her extradition. She is wanted for the April murders of 14-year-old Ines de Bedout and 13-year-old Emilia Forero in Bogota.
Who Is Zulma Guzman Castro?
Castro was a well-known entrepreneur in Colombia. She appeared on Shark Tank Colombia in 2021, where she presented her electric car-sharing company.
She described her business on the show by saying, “CarB is the first car-sharing service in Colombia. It’s a platform that allows you to rent electric and gasoline-powered cars by the hour through an app. We also currently have electric cars in partnership with a large retailer and an energy company.”
Castro studied economics at Los Andes University in Bogota. She later earned advanced degrees in environmental and natural resource economics in Germany and Switzerland. She also worked at Colombia’s Environment Ministry and ran security and real estate companies.
Later, she studied architecture and completed a two-year entrepreneurship MBA through UC Berkeley and Columbia University.
What Happened to the Two Teen Girls?
According to investigators, Castro had planned to poison her former lover Juan de Bedout, the father of one of the victims. She allegedly sent him chocolate-covered raspberries laced with thallium, a deadly substance that has no taste or smell.
However, the chocolates were eaten by the two girls instead. Both Ines and Emilia died four days later after consuming the poisoned berries. Another teenage girl suffered permanent injuries, while the 21-year-old brother of one victim was also hospitalized.
Why Was Zulma Guzman Castro Targeting the Father
Reports say Castro had been secretly involved with Juan de Bedout for years. Their relationship ended shortly before the poisoning. Authorities believe Castro sent the poisoned gift intending to kill him, but the plan went wrong when the children consumed the berries.
How Did Zulma Guzman Castro Escape Colombia?
Police say Castro fled Colombia on April 13, just days after the two girls died. She later entered the United Kingdom and lived there quietly until November. Even after becoming a suspect, she gave a media interview in December and denied all charges. She claimed she was being targeted because of her past relationship.
Zulma Guzman Castro’s Arrest in London
On December 16, Castro jumped into the icy River Thames from Battersea Bridge. She survived and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. After doctors cleared her, British authorities arrested her on January 5. She is now being held while Colombia completes the legal process to bring her back to face trial.
Heartbreaking Tribute from Emilia’s Father
Emilia’s father, Pedro Forero, shared an emotional message on what would have been her 14th birthday. He wrote, “Daughter, you will always be the greatest love I as a father can ever feel. There is no girlfriend or wife that can generate the love I had when I had you, and with this love I will go until the last day of my life.”
He added, “I love you and I will love you for the rest of my life. I cry for the stories we won’t be able to live. I appreciate who you were and what you taught me. You were and will be the cutest thing I had in my life.”
What Happens Next?
Zulma Guzman Castro remains in UK custody as Colombia seeks her extradition. If sent back, she will face trial for the murders of two teenage girls and for attempting to kill their father using poison. The case has shocked both Colombia and the UK, especially because of Castro’s high-profile business background and television fame.
