The mother of Gabriel Esteban, a 4-year-old boy killed by his father in a hotel in Melgar, detailed how she met the child's killer and why they separated

In July 2026, the mother of four-year-old Gabriel Esteban González, who was murdered by his father in a hotel in Melgar, Tolima, shared detailed accounts of how she met her ex-partner and the reasons behind their separation. The incident occurred in October 2022, and the man responsible, Gabriel González Cubillos, died in prison in 2023 after being sentenced to 45 years for the crime. The case has become a pivotal moment in Colombian legal history, leading to the creation of the “Ley Gabriel Esteban,” aimed at strengthening protections for children facing domestic violence. Consuelo Rodríguez, the child’s mother, spoke with the podcast Conducta Delictiva, recounting the early stages of her relationship with the accused and the gradual escalation of controlling behaviors. Rodríguez explained that she met Gabriel González Cubillos while working at a commercial center in Bogotá, where they operated adjacent clothing stores. She described their initial interactions as friendly and supportive, noting that he showed genuine care during their early courtship. “He was very attentive. He always sent fruit salads and checked in on me,” she recalled. At the time, she believed his attention was sincere and welcomed. However, as their relationship evolved, so did the dynamics of their living situation. After Rodríguez became pregnant, she initially stayed with her older child and continued working. But due to medical complications, she moved in with her partner. “He told me I couldn’t live alone anymore. I had to come live with him,” she said, describing the move to El Tintal. This marked the beginning of a more intense cohabitation period, which would later be characterized by increasing surveillance and control. From the outset, Rodríguez noticed subtle signs of possessiveness. Her former partner would often show up unannounced at the clinic where she received treatment, and colleagues warned her about his presence. “My coworkers would say, ‘Consuelo, your husband came to pick you up.’ I’d ask, ‘When?’ And from that point, these small things began,” she recounted. These incidents were initially perceived as gestures of affection rather than red flags. As her work shifted to home-based operations, the monitoring intensified. Rodríguez described how her ex-partner would make daily video calls to check her location. “My son went to school around 12:20, and I arrived home around one. At exactly one, he would call me to confirm I was there,” she said. Such practices, though seemingly routine, created a suffocating atmosphere. The turning point came when Rodríguez discovered a hidden memory stick in the bathroom. During a scheduled visitation arrangement, her ex-partner instructed her to check the device. Inside, she found two videos, one showing them together, and another containing a confession. In the second video, the man claimed responsibility for the child's death and blamed Rodríguez for his decisions. “He said he was going to kill the boy before taking his own life,” she said. Upon discovering the contents, Rodríguez immediately alerted authorities. That night, police were dispatched to locate the child, but no one answered the door. Days later, a message appeared on her phone, images of the child, accompanied by a text claiming the boy hadn’t suffered. “That was a lie,” she said, expressing disbelief and anger. The investigation revealed that the child had been taken to a hotel in Melgar, where he was found dead from mechanical asphyxia. The suspect was arrested initially for attempting to bribe a police officer and later charged with aggravated homicide. He was eventually sentenced to 45 years in prison. While serving his sentence in Ibagué, he succumbed to poisoning-related illness. The case continues to resonate within Colombian society, highlighting the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks to protect vulnerable individuals from domestic abuse. As the nation reflects on the tragedy, the story of Gabriel Esteban serves as both a cautionary tale and a catalyst for change.