Una modelo colombiana fue encontrada muerta dentro de una valija en un departamento de alquiler temporario en el norte de Bogotá. Se trata de Natalia Villalba Angarita, de 36 años.

El hallazgo se produjo el lunes en un edificio ubicado en el barrio Chicó Norte, en la localidad de Chapinero. Una empleada de limpieza entró al departamento luego de no obtener respuesta de los ocupantes y encontró una valija gris abierta dentro de la ducha del baño. En su interior estaba el cuerpo de Villalba.

Según confirmaron las autoridades, la modelo estaba hospedada desde el 3 de junio bajo la modalidad de alquiler temporario y tenía previsto quedarse hasta el 21 de junio. A partir de ese momento comenzó una investigación que reconstruye sus últimos movimientos y los de las personas que ingresaron al departamento durante las semanas previas al espeluznante hallazgo.

De acuerdo con información difundida por Noticias Caracol, los registros del edificio indican que entre el 3 y el 7 de junio existió una reserva vinculada a un ciudadano estadounidense, procedente de Texas. Luego, Villalba habría renovado la estadía hasta el 21 de junio.

Durante ese período se registró el ingreso de al menos 15 personas al espacio. Entre ellas, figura un británico que llegó el 17 de junio y se retiró al día siguiente.

Las cámaras de seguridad no solo captaron su entrada y salida: en una de las grabaciones, se lo ve llevando sábanas hacia el sector de lavandería. Ese detalle llamó especialmente la atención de los investigadores, ya que el hombre sería la última persona que tuvo contacto con la víctima antes de su muerte.

Uno de los aspectos que sorprende tiene que ver con la forma en que fue abandonado el cuerpo. La valija permanecía con una pequeña abertura y estaba ubicada debajo de una ducha que había quedado abierta.

Fuentes vinculadas al caso señalaron que esa situación pudo haber alterado el estado del cadáver y deteriorado posibles evidencias. “El agua entró a la maleta y afectó el estado del cuerpo de la joven que ya llevaba varios días expuesta al líquido. Eso pudo borrar ciertas huellas e incluso causarle lesiones en la piel que dificultarían un poco determinar cómo murió”, explicó un investigador al diario El Tiempo.

En ese sentido, consideró que la disposición del cuerpo dentro del baño no habría sido casual: “La persona que dejó ahí el cuerpo sabía que el agua alteraría la escena”.

La causa también abrió una nueva línea de investigación luego de que los peritos encontraran dos pasaportes pertenecientes a la víctima, pero con diferencias en la identidad registrada. En uno figuraba como Natalia Villalba Rubiano y en otro como Rubiano Angarita.

A raíz de este descubrimiento, las autoridades comenzaron a revisar sus movimientos migratorios. Hasta el momento se confirmó que había hecho viajes recientes a Río de Janeiro y a Madrid. Los investigadores buscan determinar si esos desplazamientos guardan alguna relación con las personas que estuvieron con ella en los días previos a su muerte.

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En paralelo, la atención se concentra en el ciudadano británico, quien abandonó Colombia poco después de los hechos. La posibilidad de que haya salido del país activó mecanismos de cooperación internacional y no se descarta que la Fiscalía solicite una notificación de Interpol para localizarlo y tomarle declaración.

Por el momento no hay personas imputadas, aunque al menos dos hombres permanecen bajo observación.

Los investigadores analizan pruebas físicas, biológicas y toxicológicas recolectadas en la escena. También avanzan sobre las grabaciones de las cámaras de seguridad, los registros de ingreso al edificio y los testimonios de familiares, amigos y personas que estuvieron con la modelo en sus últimos días, piezas clave para intentar esclarecer qué ocurrió.

A vulnerable Democratic New Mexico lawmaker once called for his state to walk away from the energy production that brings in almost a third of the state’s general fund, while now pitching an «all of the above» energy approach.

«We have to champion a whole bunch of different policies to really mitigate the impact of climate change,» Rep. Gabriel Vasquez, D-N.M., said in a 2021 interview.

«The electrification of our fleet systems, for example, across our federal government and even our local government here in the city of Las Cruces, the electrification of residential developments, the electrification of residential developments the electrification of commercial and municipal developments, limiting the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels and carbon-based fuels and replacing them with electric,» Vasquez said.

At the time, Vasquez was in the middle of a campaign to become the Democratic nominee to challenge incumbent Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M.

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His resurfaced comments come as he wages a campaign for a third term in one of the country’s most competitive congressional districts and highlight how some Democrats have made efforts to rebrand their stances towards renewable sources of power as they look to champion affordability platforms.

In his most recent campaign materials, Vasquez has said he supports all forms of energy, citing high prices.

«Rep. Vasquez stands by the energy workers in the Permian Basin who fuel America’s energy economy. He believes in an all-of-the-above approach with oil and gas and clean energy to diversify our economy and bring more jobs to New Mexico,» his website reads.

When asked about his past comments and whether he believes they conflict with his current stance, Vazquez’s campaign said the congressman stands by his current position.

«Gabe is proud of his record on the City Council and his advocacy for clean energy, clean air and clean water. In Congress, he continues to support an all-of-the-above energy approach,» Patricia Santiago, a spokesperson for the campaign, said.

Energy production in the Permian Basin, one of the world’s largest oil and gas regions, employs a large number of people in New Mexico.

The industry brings in $13.1 billion in total revenue, according to the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. Of that, roughly $7.5 billion goes to New Mexico’s general fund, the state Department of Finance and Administration says.

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Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., holds a news conference with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the House Democrats 2025 Issues Conference at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va., on March 13, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

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It’s a reliance Greg Cunningham, a former law enforcement agent and Vasquez’s challenger, believes isn’t going anywhere.

«Progressives like Gabe Vasque are first in line to spend our oil and gas money, and then they run around and shame the very industry that funds our schools, builds our roads and gives more than 100,000 New Mexicans a good-paying job. You don’t get to cash the check and trash the people who wrote it,» Cunningham said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

«Energy is and will continue to be the lifeblood of New Mexico,» Cunningham added.

Back in 2021, Vasquez seemed to believe that the transition away from fossil fuels would take time.

«We also have to make sure we lay down the path into renewable energy, and that means in places like the Permian Basin, where the economy is strongly dominated by fossil fuel extraction, that we prepare the workforce for a transition into a renewable energy workforce,» Vasquez said.

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Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., attends a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc)

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«That doesn’t mean next year, that doesn’t mean in five to ten years. We have to be much smarter,» he added.

Vasquez last won re-election in a 52.1% to 47.9% victory over Herrell in 2024.

Progressive candidate Iván Cepeda on Wednesday conceded Colombia’s presidential election to conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The concession came days after Cepeda initially refused to acknowledge defeat following preliminary results that showed de la Espriella as the apparent winner. 

«At this stage of the vote count, I have decided to accept the result emerging from that process, which indicates that Abelardo de la Espriella is the new President of the Republic,» Cepeda said in an address to the nation. 

«I do so as an act of democratic responsibility.»

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De la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer who had never previously run for office, known to his supporters as «El Tigre,» defeated Senate member Iván Cepeda by one percentage point in a remarkably close election, according to officials. 

«The vote count shows an extraordinarily narrow margin between the two options vying for the trust of the Colombian people,» he said. «Less than 1% of the vote separates the candidacies that participated in this contest.»

Despite his concession, Cepeda made serious allegations that de la Espriella’s victory was influenced by «foreign interference» by the United States and the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate voters. 

«During this process, we denounced the open and improper foreign interference in Colombia’s internal affairs—particularly the interventions by the United States government, and specifically the interventions by President Donald Trump in support of Abelardo de la Espriella’s candidacy,» he said. 

He further accused the opposing campaign of widespread vote-buying and unethical tactics that he said undermined the legitimacy of the election results.

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Abelardo de la Espriella delivers a speech to supporters during a campaign rally in Palmira, near Cali, Colombia on May 14, 2026.  (Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images)

President-elect de la Espriella will begin his four-year term in August.

«Starting August 7, we will work with determination to consolidate a common agenda that strengthens the security, freedom, and prosperity of our nations,» de la Espriella in a post on X. 

The result will effectively end outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s leftist influence on the state and the policies Cepeda had pledged to continue if he won the election.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, left, and President Donald Trump are shown in separate photographs. (Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images; Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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A core pillar of Petro’s signature agenda was his «total peace» strategy, aimed at opening negotiations with remaining guerrilla forces, drug cartels, and armed paramilitary groups in an effort to end Colombia’s decades long internal conflict. 

In contrast, de la Espriella has pledged a more hardline approach, including a militarized crackdown on criminal organizations, proposals to build mega-prisons, expand fossil fuel fracking, and revive the controversial practice of aerial glyphosate spraying to eradicate coca crops.

The president-elect, who holds dual Colombian and U.S. citizenship, has also said he plans to add Colombia to the Trump-dubbed «Shield of the Americas,» a proposed coalition aimed at coordinating efforts against criminal groups in Latin America.