Luis Francisco Cuéllar

Luis Francisco Cuéllar Carvajal (December 22, 1940 – December 22, 2009) was a Colombian politician, serving as Mayor of Morelia, Governor of the Caquetá Department from 2008 to 2009, and Deputy Governor of Caqueta from 2000 to 2003. He is known for being kidnapped and murdered by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and for being kidnapped and held for ransom four times.

Biography

Cuellar was born in Timaná, Huila, Colombia on December 22, 1940. Prior to his political career, he worked as a cattle rancher. He married Imelda Galindo de Cuéllar in 1968, and the couple stayed together until his death. Cuellar was a Roman Catholic.

Political career

Cuéllar served as deputy of the department of Caquetá from 2000 to 2003, and governor from January 1, 2008, until his murder on December 22, 2009. He also served as the mayor of Morelia from 1996 to 1998. In 1997, he related his experiences as a hostage and met relatives of hostages being held by FARC. He was a member in the Indigenous Social Alliance Movement and the Colombian People's Party. During his term as governor, he established the Cuellar Public Health Laboratory in Florencia. He also ordered a variety of internationally made sports facilities for Caqueta schools.

Last kidnapping and death Cuéllar was kidnapped on December 21, 2009. The Cuéllar family claims to have been under threat prior to the kidnapping. His home in Florencia was raided by 8 to 10 gunmen, who killed a police guard and used explosives to blow open the front door of the building, wounding two other police guards. The gunmen then entered the building and seized Cuéllar. Colombian authorities began a large-scale manhunt, deploying 2,000 soldiers and police officers into the jungle highlands surrounding Florencia to search for him. President Álvaro Uribe offered 1 billion pesos (approximately €340,000, US$490,000) to anyone providing information leading to his safe return. after local villagers led troops to it. The burnt pickup truck used by the gunmen was discovered by police with nine explosive charges. Cuéllar's throat had been slit. Colombian authorities began an investigation into the murder, and offered 1 billion pesos for information leading to the killers. In January 2010, Henry Lopez Sarmiento, the FARC commander suspected of masterminding Cuellar's kidnapping, was detained by Colombian authorities, and was charged with abduction and murder.

After his death, his wife said he had previously been kidnapped four other times.