Crime Documentary - The Luis Garavito story
- 7 years ago
Viewer discretion is advised. Some may find this content disturbing. This is a documentary I found interesting.
Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos (born January 25, 1957), also known as La Bestia ("The Beast") or Tribilín (named after Disney character "Goofy"'s Latin American Spanish name) is a Colombian rapist and serial killer. In 1999, he admitted to the rape, torture and murder of 147 young boys. His victims, based on the locations of skeletons listed on maps that Garavito drew in prison, could eventually exceed 300; Garavito continues to confess to more murders. He has been described by local media as "the world's worst serial killer".
Garavito's victims were clearly identified by their age, gender and social status. Garavito targeted boys who were either homeless, peasants, or orphaned. He profiled boys between the ages of 6 through 16. Garavito approached the young boys either on the crowded streets or alone on the countryside. Garavito lured the children away by bribing them with small gifts like money, cash, candy or odd jobs. He offered easy work for money and even disguised himself as different characters including: a priest, farmer, homeless man, street vendor, drug dealer, elderly man, and a gambler. Garavito changed his disguise often to reduce suspicion. Once Garavito had the child's trust he would walk the boy until they were tired, vulnerable, and easy to handle. By this time their hands were the first to be tied up. Garavito tortured, raped, and then decapitated his victims. In one case another the child's genitals were severed and placed into the victim's mouth. The bodies of the children all had bite marks and signs of anal penetration; bottles of lubricant were found along with empty liquor bottles. Most corpses showed signs of prolonged torture.
Garavito was arrested on April 22, 1999 on separate charges of attempted rape. Garavito was questioned about the local killings and his attempted rape charges. Police speculated that Garavito had planned on killing the young boy if the bystander had not interceded. After a short interrogation, detectives suspected Garavito of being the “Beast”, although Garavito had insisted on his innocence. The detailed description of his killings brought Garavito to tears. For Colombia's Justice Department, Garavito's confession was not enough. Garavito had an eye condition which was rare and only found in men in a particular age group. His glasses were specifically designed for his unique condition. These particular glasses were found at the sight of a mass grave. Garavito also left behind empty liquor bottles, his underwear, and occasionally his shoes. DNA was found inside the victim's anal cavity along with the other items left behind. Police scheduled the entire jail, where Garavito was being detained to get an eye exam. The outcome of his eye exam would help police pair the glasses to Garavito. By making it mandatory for all the prisoners, it reduced Garavito's suspicion; it kept Garavito from lying about his eyesight. While Garavito was out of his cell, detectives took DNA samples from his pillow and living area. The DNA found at the crime scene was a match to the DNA found in Garavito's cell. Garavito confessed to murdering 140 children, and was charged with killing 172 altogether throughout Colombia. He was found guilty on 138 of the 172 accounts; the others are ongoing. Although the maximum sentence for murder in Colombia multiplied by 138 comes to 1,853 years and 9 days, Colombian law limits imprisonment to 40 years, but because Garavito helped police find the victims bodies, his sentence was further reduced to 22 years.
Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos (born January 25, 1957), also known as La Bestia ("The Beast") or Tribilín (named after Disney character "Goofy"'s Latin American Spanish name) is a Colombian rapist and serial killer. In 1999, he admitted to the rape, torture and murder of 147 young boys. His victims, based on the locations of skeletons listed on maps that Garavito drew in prison, could eventually exceed 300; Garavito continues to confess to more murders. He has been described by local media as "the world's worst serial killer".
Garavito's victims were clearly identified by their age, gender and social status. Garavito targeted boys who were either homeless, peasants, or orphaned. He profiled boys between the ages of 6 through 16. Garavito approached the young boys either on the crowded streets or alone on the countryside. Garavito lured the children away by bribing them with small gifts like money, cash, candy or odd jobs. He offered easy work for money and even disguised himself as different characters including: a priest, farmer, homeless man, street vendor, drug dealer, elderly man, and a gambler. Garavito changed his disguise often to reduce suspicion. Once Garavito had the child's trust he would walk the boy until they were tired, vulnerable, and easy to handle. By this time their hands were the first to be tied up. Garavito tortured, raped, and then decapitated his victims. In one case another the child's genitals were severed and placed into the victim's mouth. The bodies of the children all had bite marks and signs of anal penetration; bottles of lubricant were found along with empty liquor bottles. Most corpses showed signs of prolonged torture.
Garavito was arrested on April 22, 1999 on separate charges of attempted rape. Garavito was questioned about the local killings and his attempted rape charges. Police speculated that Garavito had planned on killing the young boy if the bystander had not interceded. After a short interrogation, detectives suspected Garavito of being the “Beast”, although Garavito had insisted on his innocence. The detailed description of his killings brought Garavito to tears. For Colombia's Justice Department, Garavito's confession was not enough. Garavito had an eye condition which was rare and only found in men in a particular age group. His glasses were specifically designed for his unique condition. These particular glasses were found at the sight of a mass grave. Garavito also left behind empty liquor bottles, his underwear, and occasionally his shoes. DNA was found inside the victim's anal cavity along with the other items left behind. Police scheduled the entire jail, where Garavito was being detained to get an eye exam. The outcome of his eye exam would help police pair the glasses to Garavito. By making it mandatory for all the prisoners, it reduced Garavito's suspicion; it kept Garavito from lying about his eyesight. While Garavito was out of his cell, detectives took DNA samples from his pillow and living area. The DNA found at the crime scene was a match to the DNA found in Garavito's cell. Garavito confessed to murdering 140 children, and was charged with killing 172 altogether throughout Colombia. He was found guilty on 138 of the 172 accounts; the others are ongoing. Although the maximum sentence for murder in Colombia multiplied by 138 comes to 1,853 years and 9 days, Colombian law limits imprisonment to 40 years, but because Garavito helped police find the victims bodies, his sentence was further reduced to 22 years.