24/06/2026 16:29 - Judiciales
A disturbing case has captured national attention in Colombia and sparked widespread reactions on social media. The model, Natalia Villalba, 36, was found dead on June 22, 2024 in a short-term rental apartment in Chapinero, an affluent neighborhood in northern Bogotá — the country's capital and largest city with over 7 million residents.
Cleaning staff at the Morph Chicó building entered the unit after the reservation period expired without receiving any response from the tenant. In the bathroom, they discovered a gray suitcase containing the body, while the shower remained running — an apparent attempt to conceal evidence.
The model had rented apartment 702 starting June 3 and extended her stay until June 21.
Colombia's Office of the Attorney General (Fiscalía General) and the CTI — the technical investigation team similar to a criminal investigation division — are pursuing two foreign nationals:
Authorities are analyzing security footage to identify approximately 15 individuals who entered the building during that timeframe.
Name: Natalia Villalba Angarita
Age: 36 years old
Hometown: Cúcuta, Norte de Santander (a city near the Venezuelan border)
Residence: Bogotá (17 years)
Date found: June 22, 2024
Investigators found two passports with the same photograph of the victim but under different surnames: Villalba Rubiano and Rubiano Angarita.
Records show recent travel to Spain and Brazil.
What is femicide? In Latin American legal contexts, femicide (or feminicidio) refers to the killing of a woman specifically because of her gender — a crime category recognized in Colombian law since 2015.
Colombian authorities are treating this case as a probable femicide. The body showed signs of violence according to preliminary findings.
The victim's mother, Claudia Villalba, stated she maintained frequent communication with her daughter, but had received no responses since the Thursday before the discovery.
Sources: La Voz | AS Tikitakas
Alfredo S. Quiroga
