John Poulos confesses to killing Colombian DJ Valentina Trespalacios

• John Poulos confesses to killing Valentina Trespalacios
• What did he say?
• The public demands justice for the Colombian DJ

A chilling confession left everyone in the courtroom stunned.

A year after the crime, John Poulos admitted that he killed Colombian DJ Valentina Trespalacios.

«I’ve been here for a year and haven’t had the chance to share my side,» the American reportedly told the judge before recounting his recollection of that night.

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John Poulos confesses to murder

Poulos said that he had been using drugs when he committed the crime.

«Imagine killing someone you loved,» Poulos testified in court on Wednesday, March 6, at La Picota prison in Bogotá, Colombia.

Poulos became the prime suspect in the murder of Valentina Trespalacios after witnesses said he had argued with her.

This occurred during the DJ’s performance at two nightclubs in the Colombian capital, the night before the discovery of the young woman’s body in a blue suitcase.

Valentina Trespalacios was strangled

On the night of January 22, 2023, the couple allegedly took a taxi to Poulos’ apartment Kappadocia building, located in the north of Bogotá.

They argued, but then had sex, during which the Colombian DJ was allegedly strangled with a zip tie.

According to The Daily Mail, Poulos said, » don’t remember how I got back to the apartment. I remember waking up with my clothes and shoes on. Valentina was next to me … I was in a state induced by drugs and alcohol.»

After confirming that she had no signs of life, Poulos made a dreadful decision, as he recounts: «I tried to escape from her and put her in the blue suitcase.»

Valentina Trespalacios did not know Poulos was married

The couple had met on Tinder, had been talking for over nine months, and had occasional encounters in other countries.

This was before January 2023, when Poulos decided to move to Colombia to live with her. At least, that’s what Valentina had told family and friends.

After the murder, Poulos was solely concerned with getting rid of the body. He carried the suitcase down to the car he had rented upon arrival and drove, seemingly randomly.

«I headed to the airport. I passed the car rental place, saw a dumpster, stopped to see if there were any cameras. I put Valentina’s body there,» he testified in court.

John Poulos confesses

After abandoning Valentina’s body, he returned the rented car and headed to the airport.

«I looked for a flight departing soon. I needed to leave as quickly as possible,» he continued.

According to police, Poulos bought three plane tickets. The first of them was bound for Panama.

«I looked for a place with no extradition and found Montenegro,» he explained in court.

Poulos tried to run away from his crime

John Poulos said he spoke with his boss in the United States, and said he wouldn’t be returning to work.

This new detail revealed that Poulos had been planning to move to Colombia permanently.

Allegedly, relationship problems had begun long before Poulos arrived in Bogata.

In fact, he had hired a private detective to follow Valentina, whom he accused of infidelity.

More chilling details of the case

Poulos’ desire to flee were thwarted, and he was arrested on January 24, 2024, in Panama. He now faces a charge of aggravated femicide and could spend up to 50 years in prison.

John Poulos was married and the father of three children, a situation his victim’s family claims she was unaware of.

His wife, who was in the process of divorcing him, had accused him of domestic violence.

He expressed remorse for his actions, attributing them to heavy drug and alcohol use.