Colombian Authorities Arrest U.S. Citizen on Child Abuse Charge
On Sunday, Colombian authorities arrested a U.S. citizen accused of sexually abusing a child in Bogota, the capital city’s mayor stated. The case has sparked outrage as it is not the first time a tourist has been accused of such an act in the country.
The suspect, a 36-year-old man from Texas, was allegedly caught on camera holding a 7-year-old boy next to the railing of a balcony in an upscale residential area in northern Bogota. Passersby witnessed the incident and began shouting at the man to stop.
Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan confirmed that a person had been taken into police custody, emphasizing there is “no room for mistreatment or abuse of boys and girls.” Three children were found by authorities when they entered the suspect’s apartment and were taken to a medical center for evaluation. Colombia’s state agency for child protection confirmed the three children are now in its care.
Dozens gathered at the entrance of the building where the suspect lived on Sunday afternoon, demanding his arrest. President Gustavo Petro called for visas to prevent “pedophiles” from entering the country on X. The South American nation turned away around 100 foreigners who traveled for sex tourism in the first half of 2026.
Lilia Luciano contributed to this report.