In a devastating new twist in the murder investigation of 32-year-old American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina, his closest friend has come forward with shocking details from what appears to have been his final phone conversation — painting a picture of a young man gripped by genuine fear and sensing he was being targeted for something far more sinister than a simple street robbery.

Gutiérrez Molina disappeared during a layover in Medellín, Colombia, on March 22, 2026, after a night out with colleagues in the lively El Poblado district. His body was later discovered in a remote rural area between Jericó and Puente Iglesias, confirmed through fingerprint analysis with FBI assistance. The grim discovery has left his family shattered and authorities racing to uncover the truth behind his brutal death.

Sharom Gil, identified as one of Eric’s best friends, broke her silence in recent interviews, recounting the last time she spoke with him. According to Gil, Eric sounded unusually terrified during the call. He reportedly told her that something felt very wrong and that he believed he was being followed or watched. She emphasized that Eric was not the type to imagine threats — his voice carried real panic, suggesting he had become aware of a serious danger that went well beyond a typical opportunistic crime.

This bombshell revelation has dramatically shifted the direction of the investigation. While initial suspicions focused on robbery involving scopolamine (the infamous “devil’s breath” drug that leaves victims disoriented and amnesic), the best friend’s account strongly indicates a more deliberate and personal motive. Investigators are now exploring whether Gutiérrez Molina was specifically targeted — possibly due to his position as a flight attendant with access to international routes, sensitive information, or because he inadvertently witnessed or became entangled in something dangerous during the layover.

Colombian police, working closely with the FBI, have interviewed individuals who were with him that night, some with links to local criminal networks known for using scopolamine in assaults. However, the remote location where the body was found and the mysterious messages reportedly sent to his MacBook in the hours after he vanished suggest a level of planning and intent that points to something far more calculated.

American Airlines issued a statement expressing profound grief and confirming full cooperation with law enforcement. The victim’s longtime partner, Ernesto Carranza, and other family members who rushed to Medellín received the heartbreaking confirmation directly from authorities. Friends remember Eric as a kind-hearted, vibrant young man who loved his job and the opportunity to travel the world.

The friend’s disclosure has ignited intense speculation and renewed urgency in the case. Was Eric deliberately lured into danger? Did he possess information that made him a threat to someone? Or was he caught in the crosshairs of a larger criminal operation targeting airline personnel? The combination of the fearful final call, possible drugging, the isolated body site, and the unexplained digital messages has created a deeply disturbing narrative of a murder that may involve layers of deception, surveillance, and premeditation.

Forensic teams continue to analyze evidence from the discovery site while interviews and digital forensics progress. The hope remains that the clues from that final, terrified phone conversation — along with other emerging evidence — will lead investigators to those responsible and bring justice for Eric and his grieving loved ones.

This tragic case serves as a sobering reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk even during routine work travel. As more details surface from the best friend’s account and the ongoing investigation, the aviation community mourns one of their own while demanding the full truth behind the dark, twisted motive that ended Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina’s life.