Colombian authorities have named Canadian citizen Jesse Gilbert Wiseman as the prime suspect in the murder of 20-year-old Laura Lopera, whose body was found in a suitcase in Wiseman’s rented apartment in Medellín. Similar to a previous case involving a U.S. citizen, John Poulos, the incident has sparked outrage.

Lopera and Wiseman met on a dating app in late 2023 and developed a relationship despite language barriers. Wiseman left Colombia for Guatemala on February 9, three days before Lopera’s body was discovered; she had been reported missing since January 31.

Preliminary investigations suggest Lopera likely died on February 4, a week before her body was found. The last person to see her alive was a public service driver who dropped her off at Wiseman’s apartment.

Family members describe the relationship between Lopera and Wiseman as seemingly normal, but suspicions arise regarding Wiseman’s behavior, which may have concealed a darker reality. An audio recording capturing Wiseman’s verbal threats to Lopera raises concerns about the nature of their relationship and the potential abuse she faced.

Laura Lopera leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter. Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez has confirmed Wiseman’s identification and expressed solidarity with his family while emphasizing efforts to bring him to justice through Interpol cooperation.