In the early morning of January 28, 2024, in the quiet city of Medellín, Colombia, police received a distressed emergency call regarding a criminal act at a private residence. The female caller, barely coherent, confessed that her son had committed a fatal act.

Upon arrival, investigators found a suitcase inside the home. Within it lay the body of Isabela Mesa Sanchez (19). To comprehend the scale of the tragedy, one must first understand the life of the victim and the trajectory of her relationship with her perpetrator.

Isabela Mesa Sanchez was born in Medellín in January 2005. She grew up without a father, raised primarily by her grandmother while her mother, Sandra, worked diligently in Mexico to ensure Isabela had a better future.

From a young age, Isabela displayed independence and ambition. She pursued a dream of modeling, which took off when she moved to her mother’s town in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Her beautiful smile and natural confidence quickly earned her spots in local modeling agencies. At just 16, Isabela became pregnant. She handled the situation with maturity, supported by her mother, and gave birth to a healthy son, Maximiliano.

The Controlling Romance and The Red Flags

Isabela balanced motherhood with her burgeoning modeling career, determined to build a prosperous future for her son. Though she and the child’s father separated, they maintained an amicable relationship for Maximiliano’s well-being. Sandra, working tirelessly in Mexico, frequently warned Isabela about predatory men who might feign love while seeking to destroy her life. Tragically, these warnings came too late.

The perpetrator, Sebastián Villeegas (21), was born and raised in Medellín, two years Isabela’s senior. He came from a religious family and was known for his quiet demeanor and profound jealousy. After high school, he joined the military, where he exhibited discipline but also revealed an overly controlling and easily provoked temper.

Isabela, who returned to Colombia in mid-2023 for a family vacation—a tradition with her mother and son—reconnected with Sebastián, whom she had known casually since childhood. Sebastián, then serving in the military, appeared calm and mature.

Their initial conversations were light, but from the start, Sebastián was intensely demonstrative and aggressive in his pursuit. He questioned her extensively about her life in Mexico—her son, her job, and her daily routines. Isabela, accustomed to balancing her work and motherhood, initially welcomed the attention, not recognizing the early warning signs.

The relationship quickly became romantic, but almost immediately, Sebastián exhibited extreme controlling behavior. He questioned her companions, demanded to know her whereabouts, and monitored her messages. Isabela dismissed this as mere concern, a sign of love due to the long-distance nature of their relationship. She believed the jealousy was normal and that time would temper his insecurity.

The Escalation of Obsession and The Final Visit

As Isabela’s departure date approached, Sebastián became desperate, pressuring her to stay in Colombia permanently. Isabela refused; her life, son, job, and mother were in Mexico. Sebastián could not accept this, stating he could not bear the thought of her returning to another country where other men might look at her.

Before she left, Isabela promised to maintain contact, agreeing to Sebastián’s demand for daily video calls. This seemingly harmless agreement initiated a relentless cycle of control and suppressed rage.

Back in Mexico, the communication continued daily, but Sebastián quickly became demanding and easily agitated. Delayed replies triggered immediate jealousy and accusations of neglect. He demanded proof of her loyalty, insisting on seeing her phone screen, questioning photos she uploaded, and monitoring her conversations.

Slowly, Sebastián assumed complete control over Isabela’s daily life, pressuring her to delete certain contacts and avoid friends and colleagues, especially in her modeling career. Any mention of her son’s father sparked intense anger.

Sebastián escalated his threats, stating he would harm himself if she left him, claiming he couldn’t survive the thought of her being with anyone else. On occasion, the threats deepened, hinting that he would inflict harm on anyone who came near her.

Isabela was terrified but tried to calm him, believing his behavior stemmed from intense emotion. Sebastián now dictated nearly all of Isabela’s communication, controlling whom she spoke to and where she could go. She was losing her freedom, yet desperately clung to the belief that the possessiveness was merely a sign of deep love.

By the end of 2023, the pressure peaked. Sebastián insisted that video calls were insufficient, forcing Isabela to return to Colombia, claiming it was the only way to save their relationship.

Exhausted by the constant arguments and emotional blackmail, Isabela reluctantly agreed to a short visit. She traveled alone, leaving her son Maximiliano with her mother, hoping to determine if a future with Sebastián was truly possible.

The Birthday Confrontation and The Fatal Act

Sebastián, who had taken military leave, met Isabela at the airport on January 25, 2024. Initial photos showed them smiling, but the underlying tension was immediate. Sebastián monitored her closely, demanding to know her whereabouts and companions.

In the following days, he was her constant shadow, accompanying her to all visits and observing her every move. Witnesses noted his immediate agitation whenever anyone, especially men, spoke to Isabela.

Isabela tried to mask the tension, but those close to her noticed her weariness and avoidance of being alone. Sebastián justified his relentless supervision as concern for her safety, but in reality, he controlled her every action.

By the time Isabela arrived in Medellín, Sebastián had successfully isolated her, controlling her schedule and housing. What was intended as a relationship test quickly became a period of non-stop pressure, where a single perceived misstep could ignite Sebastián’s rage.

On the evening of January 28, Isabela’s 19th birthday was celebrated with a small gathering outside Medellín. Despite her attempts to appear calm, Sebastián was visibly tense throughout the party, rarely speaking or smiling. The crisis erupted after midnight when a group photo was suggested. As Isabela moved to stand next to a long-time friend, Sebastián aggressively grabbed her hand, attempting to force her departure.

The tension was palpable; Isabela struggled to pull away, shouting at him to release her, causing the music to stop. Friends intervened, offering to take her home, but Isabela refused, saying she could handle it. They left the party near midnight. It was the last time anyone saw Isabela alive.

The Confession, The Suitcase, and The 31-Year Sentence

Phone records indicated Isabela tried to call a friend after leaving the party, but the call lasted only a few seconds. The last recorded activity on her phone occurred shortly thereafter. After leaving the party, Sebastián and Isabela drove to his parents’ house, approximately a 30-minute drive. Investigators confirmed the couple argued intensely during the drive.

Neighbors reported hearing loud screams emanating from the Villeegas house around 12:45 AM, followed by an abrupt silence. Sebastián’s parents, returning from late mass, found their son sweeping the living room, strangely silent and acting erratically.

His mother noticed he was still wearing the same clothes as the day before, which were damp. When asked about Isabela, Sebastián calmly stated they had argued, and she left. Soon after, Sebastián went to the kitchen and quietly confessed: “I ruined everything. I caused Isabela’s loss of life.” He then left the house.

Sebastián’s parents, realizing the gravity of the situation, confirmed the confession to military officials and the police. Around 8:00 AM, police arrived and discovered the suitcase mentioned by his mother. Inside was Isabela’s body. Forensic experts later confirmed 24 stab wounds, many of them defensive, indicating she fought for her life. The weapon, a kitchen knife, was recovered in the neighbor’s trash.

Sebastián surrendered the next morning at his military base, confessing his crime and stating he was ready for the punishment. Though he showed no immediate remorse, he was transferred to civilian custody.

Days later, during a break, Sebastián attempted an escape through a bathroom window, only to be quickly apprehended. This attempt further solidified the prosecution’s argument that he lacked remorse and was a flight risk.

The trial was brief. Facing overwhelming evidence, the defense offered a plea bargain. Sebastián agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The court ultimately found Sebastián criminally responsible for gender-based violence and sentenced him to 31 years and 3 months in prison with no possibility of parole or early release. Isabela’s mother, Sandra, who was granted custody of her grandson, Maximiliano, vowed to continue her fight, turning her daughter’s tragedy into a warning against destructive, controlling relationships.