What Happened to Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina? Authorities Make Grim Discovery

Since the news of the missing American Airlines flight attendant, Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, made its rounds, his family, friends, and social media users were hoping to receive some good news. Eric, a flight crew member based in Fort Worth, Texas, arrived in Medellín, Colombia, on March 21, 2026. Eric and his team were on a one-night layover and scheduled to return for the next flight the following morning. However, he never showed up.

There are plenty of reasons why a flight attendant could miss a return flight, from illness to timing out. That said, once days passed without a sign of Eric, his family and loved ones started to worry. So, what happened to Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina? Here’s everything that you need to know.

According to NBC News, the body of Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina was discovered in Colombia. Eric’s sister, Mayra Gutierrez, shared that authorities revealed that a body was found on Friday, March 26, 2026, in the northeast region of the country.

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced on X that “a lifeless body has just been found between the municipality of Jericó and Puente Iglesias.”

At the time, he also shared that it was very likely to be Eric.

“There is a very high probability that it is this person,” the mayor wrote. “The lifeless body is being transported to legal medicine in Medellín for identification and recognition. We express our solidarity with his family and friends.”

Unfortunately, it was later confirmed to the family that the body was indeed Eric’s. Making matters worse, foul play appears to be a factor, and the mayor said a full investigation will be conducted so the family can receive justice.

Once the family received the confirmation, a GoFundMe was created.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Fernando Gutierrez,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Fernando’s personality will always be remembered as a ball of sunshine as he entered and exited a room. He will always be remembered as a docile, charismatic, goofy man who always provided a helping hand."

The post continues, “We ask for any assistance to bring him back home from Colombia to the place he called home, Texas. We ask you to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.” At this time, the GoFundMe page has already passed its $25,000 goal, earning over $41,000.

Now that the unfortunate news has been confirmed, everyone is trying to piece together Eric’s last moments. Per Telemedellin, Eric reportedly told his loved ones he planned to spend the night out in the country’s El Poblado neighborhood.

However, Medellín Security Secretary Manuel Villa shared in a news conference, via NBC News, that Eric and his co-worker “encountered people with a history of committing theft.” Those folks are known to use scopolamine, which the Cleveland Clinic says “helps to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness" but can cause “blurred vision, dizzy spells, and drowsiness.”

The New York Post shares that the last time Eric was heard from was when he shared his location, which was 12 miles from Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport, at an Airbnb on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

Given all the details, social media users believe that foul play was indeed in play, and Eric may have been the victim of a robbery gone wrong. Still, only time will tell what happened to Eric.

We’d like to send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina.