Luis Garavito

Luis Garavito was a Colombian serial killer convicted of murdering dozens of boys, primarily in Colombia, during the 1990s. His crimes involved sexual assault, deception, and the exploitation of children in vulnerable circumstances.

Connect

Jorge Enrique Velásquez: A Colombian child whose murder was among the cases linked to Luis Garavito. Evidence connected to this killing helped investigators identify Garavito.
Child sexual abuse: The involvement of a child in sexual activity that the child cannot understand, consent to, or legally engage in. Sexual violence against children was central to the crimes for which Garavito was convicted.
Serial killer: A person who murders multiple victims in separate events, with a period of time between killings. Garavito’s repeated murders across separate incidents fit this criminal pattern.
Colombian National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences: Colombia’s public institution for forensic medicine and scientific support to the justice system. Forensic records and identification work bear on which victims can be securely attributed to the case.
Colombian National Police: Colombia’s national civilian police force, responsible for law enforcement and criminal investigations. Police investigations across multiple regions brought together evidence against Garavito.
Child protection: Policies and practices intended to prevent harm to children and respond to abuse or exploitation. The victims’ vulnerability sharpened questions about safeguards for children living or working on the streets.
Mass murder: The killing of multiple people in a single event or closely connected episode. Unlike a mass murder, Garavito’s killings occurred in separate incidents over time.
Criminal confession: A statement in which a person admits to committing a crime. Reported admissions contributed to estimates of Garavito’s victims, but claims require corroboration.
Criminal investigation: The process of gathering and analyzing evidence to identify suspects and establish whether crimes occurred. The geographically scattered killings required investigators to connect separate cases.
Violence against children: Physical, sexual, or psychological violence directed at people under eighteen. The murders form an extreme case of violence against children.