Real Crime Tales
Real Crime Tales goes beyond the crime.
Every case we cover — serial killers, fugitives, cold cases, and the criminals who hid in plain sight for decades — is examined through a single lens: not just what happened, but who had the chance to stop it, and why they didn't.
These are the stories of double lives carefully constructed over years. The charming GP who ended 215 of his patients' lives. The celebrated counterculture icon who hid his girlfriend's body in a trunk for 18 months. The dating show contestant the FBI had been hunting for years. The people who fooled everyone — and the systems that let them.
Every episode is built from court records, investigative journalism, police reports, and primary sources. No speculation dressed up as fact. No exploitation. The victims stay at the center of every story we tell.
This is true crime told the right way — accurate, thorough, and unafraid to ask the harder question underneath every case: how did we get here, and who left the door open?
New episodes every week.
Want early access and the fully uncensored version of every episode — with the precise language we have to soften for other platforms? Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/cw/realcrimetales. Three dollars a month keeps this podcast independent.
Real Crime Tales
The Valentina Trespalacios Case: DJ Found in Suitcase
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
The murder of Valentina Trespalacios, a 21-year-old DJ from Bogotá, Colombia, shocked the world and quickly became an international true crime case. In January 2023, her body was discovered inside a suitcase in a dumpster outside an apartment building in Bogotá, sending shockwaves through Colombia’s music community and beyond.
Authorities soon focused on John Poulos, a 35-year-old American from Wisconsin, who had recently traveled to Colombia and began a relationship with Trespalacios after meeting through a dating app. What appeared online to be a romantic relationship quickly turned into a horrifying tragedy.
An autopsy later revealed that Valentina had been beaten and strangled, and investigators alleged that Poulos attempted to flee the country shortly after the crime. He was arrested at an airport while attempting to leave the region and was later extradited to Colombia to face charges including aggravated femicide and concealment of evidence.
The case quickly gained international attention, with prosecutors seeking a sentence of more than 35 years in prison. As the trial unfolds, the world continues to follow the legal battle and the pursuit of justice for Valentina Trespalacios.
In this video, we examine the timeline of Valentina Trespalacios’ murder, the investigation into John Poulos, the evidence presented by prosecutors, and the global reaction to this tragic case.
In the heart of Colombia's vibrant capital, Bogotá, a chilling crime sent shockwaves through the city. Today, we delve into the horrifying true story of the murder of 21-year-old DJ Valentina Tres Palacios, whose life was allegedly taken at the hands of her American boyfriend, John Poulos. This is a true crime story that reveals the horroring events leading to her tragic demise. In the winter of 2022, 35-year-old John Poulos, a divorced father of three from Franklin, Wisconsin, embarked on a vacation to Colombia that would forever change his life. Through an online dating app, he met Valentina Trespalacios, a renowned electronic music DJ, and they quickly fell in love. Their whirlwind romance led to plans of marriage, but beneath the surface of their seemingly blissful relationship, something sinister was brewing. The couple appeared to be spinning with each other, and Pulos even shared their happiness on social media, posting a selfie with Valentina, accompanied by the caption, invited a Colombian woman on a vacation without meeting her first. Now we're getting married. However, little did the world know that behind the cheerful facade, a grim fate awaited Valentina. On January 22nd, 2022, a homeless man searching for recyclables made a horrifying discovery in a dumpster outside an apartment building in Bogota. The body of Valentina Tres Palacios was found forcefully stuffed inside a suitcase. The night before, the couple had allegedly become intimate in their apartment on the north side of the city before things later changed for the worst. While an understanding of motivation and the exact events that occurred that night are unclear, an autopsy later revealed that she had been strangled and beaten to death. Authorities immediately turned their attention to her boyfriend, John Pulos, who had disappeared shortly after the murder. With such a brutal death occurring, it wasn't long before word spread. The revelation of Valentina's brutal death sent shockwaves through Colombia and beyond. As the news spread, friends and family and fans of the young DJ mourned her tragic and untimely demise. The vibrant music scene of Bogotá was plunged into sorrow, and the city united in demanding justice for Valentina. Panamanian authorities captured Pulos at the airport just as he was attempting to leave the country for Montenegro, which does not have an extradition treaty with Colombia. This was perhaps an attempt to flee the country and his alleged crimes. No matter the intentions, Colombian officials had him extradited to face justice in Colombia. The prosecution is seeking a prison term of over 35 years, charging him with aggravated femicide and concealment of evidence. John Polo's capture quickly became a significant international news story, with media outlets across the globe closely following the case's development. Colombians demanded that Pulos be held accountable for his alleged heinous crime and justice be served for Valentina and her grieving loved ones. With cries of justice in the air, Colombian prosecutors are ignoring Polo's hope of a deal that would lead to a lighter sentence. Instead, they want nothing less than a hefty sentence for such a gruesome murder. Jose Martinez, the director of the Colombian Prosecution Office, was quoted saying, All the probable material, all the compelling technical evidence is there. We hope to win the trial and achieve an exemplary sentence for the city of Bogotá in this type of case. As the shocking case gained international attention, an eerie post on Twitter resurfaced. In December 2022, John Pulos had innocently shared a selfie with Valentina, gushing about their first blind date turned vacation. However, just eight months later, the same woman he had praised in that post was found dead. Twitter was left in disbelief as the post became a haunting reminder of the tragedy that unfolded. The eerie contrast between Pulos' cheerful social media posts and the grim reality of Valentina's murder sent shockwaves through Twitter, with many users expressing their outrage and disbelief. The case has slowly become a modern symbol of the dark underbelly of abusive relationships. One Twitter user was quoted saying, quote, Go to hell, you sick piece of shit. As the trial date approaches, Pulos's defense team attempts to nullify the case on procedural grounds, arguing inadequate translation during his custody and court appearances. They claim that the charge of femicide does not exist in his home state of Wisconsin, raising concerns about his understanding of the accusation and potential language barriers. Prosecutors, however, counter these claims, asserting that Pulos was communicated with in English and had not expressed any concerns until later. The legal battle surrounding John Pulos' fate intensifies, with the world watching as the Colombian justice system scrutinizes every piece of evidence in pursuit of the truth. Valentina's family, friends, and supporters hold on to the hope that justice will be served and that her memory will be honored by holding her alleged killer accountable. The tragic murder of DJ Valentina Tres Palacios serves as a stark reminder of the darker side of human nature. As the trial unfolds, the world waits with bated breath for justice to be served in the Colombian court. We hope that this true crime story will not only shed light on the dangers of abusive relationships, but also honor the memory of a talented young woman whose life was cut so short. Valentina's vibrant spirit and passion for music will forever be remembered by those whose lives she touched. As we conclude this true crime story, we stand united in the belief that her story must serve as a catalyst for change, fostering awareness about the perils of domestic violence and the needed justice for victims like Valentina. Thank you for joining us on this howring journey through the chilling true crime case of Valentina Tres Palacios. If you found this documentary compelling, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more true crime stories. Until next time, remember to stay safe out there.
