American Man Wanted in Colombia for Strangling DJ Girlfriend to Death Arrested in Panama

An American man was arrested at an airport in Panama on Tuesday. John Poulos, a resident of Texas, is reportedly wanted in Colombia for the murder of his DJ girlfriend.

Poulos, 35, was about to board a flight to another country when the Panama National Police captured him. He was reportedly the last person to see his 23-year-old Colombian girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios, alive.

According to the Colombian newspaper El Colombiano, Panamanian authorities said the American man's next destination was Istanbul, Turkey.

Poulos is reportedly awaiting extradition back to Colombia, where he will be charged with femicide. Trespalacios' family believes the American man is responsible for the death of the Colombian DJ.

Poulos reportedly left Colombia on Sunday aboard a flight at El Dorado International Airport. He arrived at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City on the same day, just hours after Trespalacios' body was discovered with the pajamas she usually slept in.

DJ Girlfriend Moved to Place Rented by American Man in Colombia Before She Was Killed

The family of Valentina Trespalacios said the Colombian DJ and John Poulos met at an event she had been hired to perform. They have been dating for eight months.

On Friday, Trespalacios reportedly moved into a home the American man had been renting in the capital of Bogota, where they were planning to live together after they got married.

They were reportedly in the early stages of planning to get married. Daily Mail reported that the couple had spent the weekend dining and partying before it all ended in tragedy.

A homeless person searching for recyclables discovered a blue suitcase containing Trespalacios' body and called the police. The suitcase was reportedly abandoned in a dumpster in Bogota.

An autopsy report revealed that Trespalacios's body was bruised, and she was strangled with a rope. When the American man was arrested in Panama, the Colombian National Police were still investigating the case.

They had searched the home that the couple moved into, as well as the 2021 Volkswagen Voyager that Poulos had also rented.

Trespalacios reportedly spoke little English and often communicated with her boyfriend using a translation app. They were last seen together by a rideshare app driver who drove the couple to a nightclub.

The driver reportedly told authorities that he sensed the woman was in trouble after she messaged him through the company app, saying, "Help, I am in danger."

The driver also said that before Poulos arrived at the car, Trespalacios had been making hand gestures. But when he asked her if she was okay, she reportedly replied "yes" thrice.

Who is the American Suspect, John Poulos?

According to the Daily Mail, John Poulos' recently deleted LinkedIn page said he was hired as a financial advisor by Vanguard last year.

The family of Valentina Trespalacios said the American man was planning to move to Colombia after marrying the Colombian DJ there.

The brother of Trespalacios, Daniel Felipe, told Caracol TV that the family had warm feelings about Poulos, adding that he never expected him to be a suspect in his sister's murder.

He noted that the couple had previously traveled to Mexico together, and they trusted him. However, Trespalacios' mom, Laura Hidalgo, said Poulos became "very obsessed" with her daughter and was jealous.

She said the couple had an argument last month "out of jealousy" because her daughter 'had many suitors" as she was "very beautiful."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Ella era Valentina Trespalacios, la joven DJ que fue hallada muerta en Bogotá - From Noticias Caracol