The Attorney General’s Office of Colombia has confirmed the discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of eight individuals who went missing in the department of Guaviare in April. Seven of the victims were evangelical Christians, some of whom held leadership positions in their local churches.
The grave is in a rural area of the municipality of Calamar. The victims, Jesús and Carlos Valero, Marivel Silva, Isaíd Gómez, Maryuri and Óscar Hernández, James Caicedo, and Nixon Peñaloza Chacón, were last seen between 4-6 April. They had been summoned by the Frente Primero del Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a dissident armed group formed from the now-extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.
According to Prosecutor Raúl González, the breakdown in the case came after authorities captured one of the alleged perpetrators. Images recovered from the suspect’s mobile led investigators to the location of the grave. González also revealed chilling details: the victims were forced to dig their own graves before being executed.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the murders, calling them “a serious affront to the right to life, religious freedom, and spiritual work.” He called for the protection of faith leaders and accountability for those responsible. However, despite this public statement, no substantial government action has followed so far.
The Victims: Christians and Community Leaders
Research by Open Doors confirms that seven of the eight victims were active members of local faith groups. Some were affiliated with Evangelical Alliance Denomination of Colombia (DEAC) and the Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICCG), where they served in leadership roles.
Among them were Isaíd Gómez and Maribel Silva, a married couple known for preaching in the region and parents of two children. Another victim, Maryuri Hernández, was the mother of a five-year-old girl and supported pastoral work in her community.
All eight had fled the department Arauca in search of safety due to ongoing violence driven by Colombia’s internal armed conflict. They had settled in Guaviare, hoping for a more peaceful life.
What Is Known About the Case?
Prosecutor González shares that the victims were likely targeted on unfounded suspicions about their origins. The EMC believed they were collaborating with the ELN, another illegal group active in Arauca, and competing for control over drug trafficking routes in Guaviare.
Investigations reveal that, after being summoned, the Christian leaders were taken downstream by boat and brought to an abandoned property where they were executed.
When the victims disappeared, their families alerted authorities and even tried to get information directly from the armed group. Initially, the group denied involvement. Later, however, it issued a thinly veiled threat urging the families to stop searching and to “consider the case closed.” At present date, the group has not responded to official accusations.
An Urgent Call to Prayer
Open Doors has been in contact with people close to the victims since early April, when their disappearance was first reported. On the night of July 1, one of the victims’ acquaintances confirmed to the Open Doors’ team what had already begun circulating in the national media: ‘We wish we could say it’s not true, but yes, they were killed”.
After the news was confirmed, the victims loved ones expressed deep grief and shared, “Thank you for praying. We ask that you continue to pray”.
The local Christian community is in mourning. For many Christians in Guaviare, the murder confirms a growing fear: the increasing insecurity driven by clashes between illegal armed groups vying for control of the region.
These groups often see churches as a threat, especially when churches engage in ministries that support drug rehabilitation or help people leave criminal lifestyles. Such actions can be perceived as a threat to the commercial interests of criminal actors.
Open Doors is continuing its investigation to determine whether the murders were directly connected to the victims’ Christian faith. In the meantime, we ask for the global Church to intercede for the families, local churches, and all those affected by violence in Colombia.
Pray for Colombia
- Pray for comfort for the families of the eight victims, especially the children who were left orphaned.
- Lift up the local churches that are grieving the loss of their leaders and ministry workers.
- Ask for strength, unity, and perseverance for Christians in Guaviare.
- Pray for peace in Colombia, for repentance among those who commit violence, and for transformation in the regions most affected.
- Cry out for courage for persecuted Christians and for wisdom and discernment for those supporting them.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
