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Boyfriend arrested after DJ’s body found stuffed inside suitcase

The boyfriend of a well-known DJ found dead in a suitcase at the bottom of a commercial bin has been arrested by police in Panama after trying to board a flight to Turkey.

Twenty-three year old Valentina Trespalacios - who has nearly 16,000 followers on Instagram - was found dead inside a suitcase wrapped in tape in Colombia's capital Bogota, on January 22.

Police believe she was throttled after an autopsy found a deep groove in her neck, which could have been caused by strangulation.

DJ Valentina Trespalacios was a promising DJ who performed at top clubs across Bogota. Source: Newsflash/ Australscope
DJ Valentina Trespalacios was a promising DJ who performed at top clubs across Bogota. Source: Newsflash/ Australscope

Local media reported that the prime suspect is her boyfriend - 35-year-old John Poulos from the US state of Texas. He vanished following the discovery of Ms Trespalacios' body but was later found to have travelled to Panama, The City Paper Bogota reported.

His social media accounts have recently been deleted. The pair had been dating for a year.

The discovery was made when a man spotted the suitcase in a dumpster. When he opened it, he was horrified to find the young woman's body folded up inside and called police.

During an inspection of the scene, investigators found personal items belonging to the DJ next to her body.

DJ Valentina Trespalacios, 23, pictured with John Poulos. Source: Newsflash/ Australscope
DJ Valentina Trespalacios, 23, pictured with John Poulos. Source: Newsflash/ Australscope

These included a student ID issued by her university, where Valentina was reportedly studying trade and global business technology.

Autopsy results showed that she had a "pressure groove in the hyoid region" but no other visible signs of violence.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Camilo Torres told local media security footage was now being assessed.

According to reports, Ms Trespalacios had gone to a party with Poulos. The American had allegedly travelled from his home to the Colombian capital to propose to her.

Grieving uncle Carlos Trespalacios said his niece had a bright career ahead of her.

"She was a national and international DJ with a great future, she was hired by the best clubs in Bogota and the country and she also had the opportunity to go to other South American countries."

Ms Trespalacios' mother Laura Hidalgo told local media her daughter was going to marry Poulos, CNN reported.

- Newsflash/ Australscope

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