Castro Faces Extradition to Colombia Following Alleged Thallium Poison Killings of Young Victims

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Zulma Guzman Castro, 54, a former Shark Tank Colombia contestant, was arrested in London after allegedly murdering two teenage girls in Bogota, Colombia. Authorities pulled her alive from the River Thames near Battersea Bridge on December 16. 

She has been held in a UK psychiatric hospital since and is awaiting extradition to Colombia to face charges in connection with the deaths of 14-year-old Ines de Bedout and 13-year-old Emilia Forero.

Allegations and Method of Crime


Castro is accused of lacing chocolate-covered raspberries with tasteless and odorless thallium poison, originally intended for the father of one of the victims, Juan de Bedout, her former lover. 

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Tragically, the girls consumed the poisoned berries and died four days later. Another teenager suffered life-altering injuries, and a victim’s brother was hospitalized. Castro allegedly fled Colombia on April 13, months after the murders, arriving in the UK in November.

Professional Background and Shark Tank Appearance


Before the alleged crimes, Castro built a successful career in business and academia. She studied economics at Los Andes University, pursued environmental economics in Europe, and worked at the Colombian Environment Ministry. 

She later founded firms including Integra Security and Urbia, and launched an electric car rental company, CarB, in 2015. During her live television appearance, she described CarB as Colombia’s first car-sharing platform for electric and gasoline-powered vehicles.

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Family Tributes and Public Reaction


The families of the victims shared their sorrow with the whole world. In August, just a few days before the victim's birthday, Pedro Forero, father of Emilia, posted a message on social media as a tribute to his daughter.  

He called Emilia the “greatest love” of his life and cried over the moments they would not experience together.

Legal Proceedings and Global Attention


Castro's arrest, given the prominence of her business background and Shark Tank presence, has caught the eye of the international press. Legal experts note that the case highlights challenges in cross-border law enforcement and the gravity of crimes involving poison. 

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Castro’s extradition and trial will take place soon. Several people are expected to witness the results as these murders have made a strong impact on the community.