John Poulos and Valentina Trespalacios Hidalgo
Pictured together are John Poulos and Valentina Trespalacios Hidalgo in a photo posted on Poulos’s X account a month before Valentina’s tragic murder in Bogotá, Colombia.
A Texas man, John Nelson Poulos, has been handed a significant prison sentence in Colombia for the murder of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios Hidalgo. The Colombian court found John Poulos, a 36-year-old former stockbroker hailing from Wisconsin, guilty of aggravated femicide and concealment of evidence, leading to a sentence of 512 months – equivalent to 42 years and eight months in a Colombian penitentiary.
The apprehension of John Poulos occurred in Panama on January 25th, 2023, as he was attempting to flee to Turkey. This arrest came three days after he committed the murder of Valentina Trespalacios, a popular DJ and social media influencer. Poulos placed her body in a suitcase and disposed of it in a dumpster in Bogotá. Colombian authorities revealed that Poulos had intentions to escape to Turkey and had even purchased a flight to Montenegro, countries without extradition agreements with Colombia, in a bid to evade justice.
Forensic examination revealed extensive bruising on Valentina Trespalacios’s body, with strangulation identified as the official cause of death. During the sentencing, the presiding judge explicitly stated that John Poulos’s motive was rooted in “uncontrollable jealousies” and a desire to exert dominance over Valentina.
Understanding Femicide in the Context of John Poulos’s Crime
The tragic death of Valentina Trespalacios brought to light disturbing patterns of controlling behavior exhibited by John Poulos. Those close to Valentina disclosed that Poulos monitored her closely, even resorting to hiring a private investigator to track her movements.
The court highlighted Poulos’s possessive attitude as a critical factor in classifying this case as femicide. The judge noted, “He thought that because he sent gifts to the family, he had some right to possess her,” emphasizing the gendered power imbalance inherent in femicide, defined as the killing of a woman because of her gender. Colombian law has recognized femicide as a distinct and severe crime since 2015, carrying heavier penalties than homicide and excluding options for house arrest or sentence reduction.
Yamile Roncancio Alfonso, director of the Feminicidios Colombia Foundation, pointed out the grim detail of Valentina’s body being discarded in a dumpster, underscoring a profound disrespect for her life. This case has resonated deeply in Colombia, sparking public outrage and widespread media coverage. Valentina Trespalacios was mourned as a promising artist whose life was tragically cut short. John Poulos’s conviction occurs amidst growing concerns in Colombia regarding exploitation and gender-based violence against local women by foreign individuals, prompting heightened vigilance from Colombian authorities.
Valentina’s mother, Laura Hidalgo, has become a prominent advocate for justice in her daughter’s case, participating in public demonstrations to demand accountability and prevent impunity.
John Poulos’s Past and Troubled Relationships
Following John Poulos’s capture, his ex-wife, Ashley Poulos, publicly expressed her condolences for Valentina’s death. In a statement through her attorney, she described her marriage to John Poulos as “abusive” and revealed that she initiated divorce proceedings to escape the situation. She characterized the divorce as “horrific” and stated that John Poulos had abandoned her and their children.
Mugshot of John Poulos
This mugshot of John Poulos was released by the Fiscalía General De La Nacion Colombia following his arrest in connection with the murder of Valentina Trespalacios.
John Poulos’s past also includes a connection to former US House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had invited the Poulos family to the State of the Union address in 2018 to recognize their son’s successful cancer treatment. However, according to Ashley Poulos, John Poulos left the United States after their separation and lived in various countries, including Cyprus, Turkey, and Ukraine, before eventually residing in Texas and traveling to Colombia.
Initially, John Poulos denied any involvement in Valentina Trespalacios’s murder, bizarrely suggesting it was a mafia-related crime. However, this claim was quickly undermined by security footage from his Bogotá residence.
A photo of video surveillance
Captured in security footage, John Poulos is seen removing a suitcase from his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, which was later found to contain the body of Valentina Trespalacios.
The surveillance video clearly depicted John Poulos removing the suitcase later found to contain Valentina’s body. Subsequently, Poulos’s legal team employed delaying tactics throughout the trial, prolonging the sentencing hearing for over a year. Despite John Poulos’s persistent complaints about his rights being violated in Colombia and the legality of his capture in Panama, the judge affirmed the validity of the evidence against him.
In a final, desperate attempt during his hearing, John Poulos claimed insanity, stating, “I don’t remember anything after having sex while using the sex toys with her. Anything that happened to her, may have been my body but it was not my mind and it was not my intent.”
Ultimately, the prosecution and Valentina Trespalacios’s family expressed satisfaction with the judge’s verdict. However, John Poulos’s attorney, John Freddy Espíndola, has announced plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the evidence was improperly assessed.
This report is based on information from José David Escobar Franco, an International Center for Journalists reporting fellow visiting Houston from Colombia, where he contributes to El Espectador newspaper.
