NoticiaAuthorities found no physical or biological signs of violence on the children. Foto: Suministrada16.06.2026 12:20 Actualizado: 16.06.2026 12:22
Colombian authorities have released Grant Gail, the man who had been detained following the circulation of a confusing video on social media. The footage, recorded by residents of the Chicó Navarra neighborhood in northern Bogotá, showed a foreign national on a balcony with a child. Residents of the area immediately called the police, claiming that it might be a case of abuse.The shots only lasted a few seconds, but they were enough to spark a nationwide reaction. The video led hundreds of people to believe that this U.S. citizen was sexually abusing the child and prompted the authorities to intervene. The situation became one of the most talked-about topics in the country over the weekend.EL TIEMPO reported that, following his arrest, the suspect was released.The results of the investigations conducted by Colombian authoritiesThe man was escorted by the police. Foto:Policía NacionalICBF Director Astrid Cáceres confirmed that the examinations conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institute found no evidence of abuse or sexual violence against the three children, ages 4, 7, and 15, who were placed under the agency’s protection. According to the official, the scenario that was initially circulated on social media “has, so far, been completely ruled out.” It is worth noting that this Colombian government agency is responsible for protecting the rights of children and adolescents. LEA TAMBIÉN According to Cáceres, inside the apartment were two adults and three minor siblings who were in the final stages of an adoption process. The adults were a couple from Texas, United States, who had entered the country on June 6 to complete the process. LEA TAMBIÉN The director of the ICBF explained that, according to information available to the Prosecutor’s Office, an incident occurred while the children were playing, a situation that led to one of them needing to catch their breath. Although she clarified that it is unclear whether or not the child choked, she indicated that this episode was likely related to the images that gave rise to the complaints.Astrid Cáceres, Director of Family Welfare. Foto:minagriculturaSeveral people entered the apartment, and one of the teenage girls had to translate for the foreign adults the complaints and accusations being made from outside. According to the official, it was precisely that minor who caused the most concern during the institutional intervention. LEA TAMBIÉN Despite this, the director insisted that the public’s reaction should not be dismissed. On the contrary, she considered it important for alerts to be issued when potential risks to children and adolescents are identified.The minor's testimonyThe images show the authorities' forceful response. Foto:Suministrada.Last Monday, June 15, the boy in question gave his account to the authorities.“The child says that he gets furious over a toy and that the only thing the man—whom he refers to as ‘father’—does is take him out onto the balcony to calm him down,” the authorities said regarding the child's account.What remains to be done for now is to determine the status of the minors.Pedro A. SánchezRedacción Últimas Noticias*This article was translated with the help of an artificial intelligence toolPresident Petro spoke about the foreign national's case. Foto: Sigue toda la información de Internacional en Facebook y Twitter, o en nuestra newsletter semanal.
