Teen took photo of stalker moments before her death
A teenage girl managed to take a photo of the man who allegedly stalked her before she was found dead in a river.
The victim’s devastated family used the snap to track down her alleged aggressor, who they reportedly killed in a mob lynching.
Karina Blanco Duran, 15, was on her way to school on May 3 when she noticed the man, who had reportedly been harassing her for several days, following her.
She bravely managed to take out her mobile phone and take a photo of her stalker before sending it to her family with the message: "I'm being followed."
Her family immediately started searching for her, but her lifeless body was found in the Cachira River in the district of La Vega in Colombia's Norte de Santander Department hours later.
There were reportedly signs that she had been abused before being killed.
Alleged killer fatally attacked by mob
Local police chief Carlos Martinez stated that the alleged perpetrator - identified as 37-year-old Venezuelan man Alexander Carrillo - was attacked by a mob on the farm he worked on after he was identified as the man in the photo.
Cops swiftly arrived on the scene, separated him from the mob and arrested him.
However, en route to the police station, they were held up by traffic, allowing the mob to catch up with them and started beating the suspect again.
One of the teen's relatives reportedly inflicted a fatal stab wound.
"The community attacked police officers who were transferring him and caused fatal injuries to the detainee." Martinez said.
The victim's father Cesar Blanco told reporters that Karina had told some friends that a man had been pursuing her for several days.
Karina's death happened on her long journey to school
On weekdays, the teen would leave her home at around 5.30am to go to school in Barrio Nuevo.
She had to walk for around 50 minutes to reach the main road, from where she would catch a bus to school.
Karina would have to pass by a river and thick vegetation to get to the bus stop.
An anonymous person who participated in the search effort told reporters: "The girl suffered [sexual] abuse and was stabbed in the chest, in the arm and in the chin.
"She was just a girl who was going to study and because of a misfit she is dead today."
Cachira mayor Javier Pabon said the man threw her body in the river after sexually abusing her.
Students and teachers at the San Francisco de Asis School held a march demanding justice for Karina, who reportedly aspired to be a psychologist.
The alleged perpetrator's age was given as 55 in some reports, while Karina's age was given as 16 in others.
It is unclear if any of those suspected of taking part in the mob lynching were arrested.
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