A haunting final photograph shows the last moments of a Colombian dairy farmer fitted with a dynamite-packed bomb collar and the bomb disposal expert who tried to save her life. The image, which recently re-emerged on social media site Reddit, captured what experts described as “an extremely sophisticated device with three detonation mechanisms” locked around the neck of 53-year-old Elvia Cortés Gil de Pachon.
Attack and ransom demand
On May 15, 2000, four masked intruders burst into Elvia’s home just outside Chiquinquira, Colombia, and glued the bomb collar around her neck. Before leaving, they left a recorded message demanding a ransom of approximately $7,500 (about £5,600 at the time, equivalent to almost £11,000 today). The macabre message warned that the “almost impossible to deactivate” device would be detonated if the money was not paid.
Thousands of Colombians listened to live radio updates as the incident unfolded. In reports, the intruders were identified as terrorists from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group, which had carried out similar extortion attacks before.
Failed defusal and explosion
After neighbours alerted authorities, Elvia was taken to an isolated stretch of road where Colombian army bomb disposal experts attempted to defuse the device for some six hours. The bid was unsuccessful, and the device detonated at about 1pm. Army Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Roa told waiting reporters that Elvia had been “practically decapitated” by the blast. Police bomb disposal technician Jairo Lopez was also killed in the explosion, one soldier lost three fingers and part of his forearm, and another suffered severe lacerations from shrapnel.
Elvia’s family were present at the scene as the bomb detonated and were seen immediately after the explosion tearfully trying to keep onlookers away.
Political fallout
In response to the tragedy, Colombian President Andres Pastrana immediately cancelled planned peace talks with FARC representatives. “The men of violence have placed a necklace of dynamite … around the hope of all Colombians,” he said. “The FARC’s attitude must change. Forty million Colombians who want peace are demanding that change. I demand this (rebel group) demonstrate … its will for peace.”
Armed forces chief Gen. Fernando Tapias said that FARC rebels rigged the “necklace” of PVC pipe packed with dynamite around Elvia’s neck to force her husband to pay the ransom, which the guerrillas described as a “war tax.” An army spokesperson said Elvia had been singled out for the “atrocious experiment” because she had recently stopped paying extortion money. FARC had threatened to impose a “wealth tax” on any individuals or companies worth more than $1m (£625,000 at the time).
FARC denial and aftermath
However, FARC denied responsibility. The group’s Ivan Rios insisted no FARC fighters had been involved. “We had nothing to do with this condemnable act,” he told Radionet Radio. Spokesman Raul Reyes added that there had been no reason to scrap the peace talks: “We’re asking the government to commit itself to … not make these unilateral decisions.”
Colombian newspaper columnist Abdon Espinosa wrote in El Tiempo: “The idea of procuring peace in the midst of war has led us to tolerate and almost legitimise the worst abuses,” adding “Whether or not the FARC is responsible for the torture and death of Elvia Cortes, a re-framing of the peace process is called for.”
Over two decades later, the exact identities of the four masked men who fitted the bomb collar around Elvia’s neck remain unknown.
