Three of the young men accepted the charges and were brought before the courts. Eight days before her death, the woman had planned to resign due to threats.
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NewsThree of the young men accepted charges and were brought before the courts. Eight days before her death, the woman had planned to resign due to threats. Karely Merlano Photo: PERSONAL ARCHIVEJOURNALIST10.10.2026 14:58 Updated: 10.10.2026 14:58
In recent hours, the mayor of Barrancabermeja, Jonathan Amaya Vásquez, confirmed through his social media the capture of alias Rambo, who would be implicated in the murder of Karely Merlano, which occurred in April of this year. The case shocked the community, as the woman, 48 years old, worked as a caregiver for the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) at a transitional home in Barrancabermeja. According to initial reports, she would have been murdered by several teenagers. Karely Merlano Photo:PERSONAL ARCHIVEAt the time, videos emerged showing the young men fleeing the scene. Days before her death, Karely had reportedly said that she was very tired and wanted to resign from her job due to the lack of decent working conditions. According to the information provided by the authorities, the young men would have attempted to sexually abuse a minor, a situation in which Karely intervened to prevent it. Apparently, the attackers beat her, tied her hands and feet and, finally, suffocated her with a rope. Karely Merlano's husband Photo:Provided to EL TIEMPONearly six months have passed since her death and, now, the local mayor confirmed the apprehension of alias Rambo for his alleged participation in this crime. According to the mayor, the result was achieved thanks to the investigative and intelligence work carried out by the authorities. Through his social media, Jonathan Amaya Vásquez spoke about the case and stated: "We are working so that justice is served for Karely. This crime cannot go unpunished." Karely Merlano died on April 9. Photo:Taken from Séptimo Día and Noticias Caracol. The mayor also indicated that there was an active apprehension order against this person and that he would allegedly be linked to other criminal acts. With this announcement, the authorities advance in the process to clarify the murder of Karely Merlano and determine the corresponding responsibilities. YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:The progress of Bogotá's metro, the increase in rents. Photo: Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter.
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