Hitwoman known as ‘The Doll’ arrested over several suspected murders

Local news in Colombia report that she may be responsible for the killing of her ex-partner.

Colombian publication Diario del Norte named the woman as 22-year-old Karen Juliet Ojeda Rodríguez and claim that she was employed by a criminal gang linked to multiple murders in the country.

Rodríguez was taken into custody alongside a male suspect - a man they identified by the alias 'Leopoldo' - for being in possession of a 9mm handgun, which was being put through ballistic tests to determine whether it had been used in crimes in the city of Barrancabermeja, located in the northern region of Santander.

Departamento de Policía Magdalena Medio, who carried out the arrest, posted footage of 'The Doll' and 'Leopolda' being taken into custody, as well as footage of the firearm they were found in possession of.

Diairo del Norte reports that the woman operates as the second-in-command of a gang called "Los de la M," which battles with other criminal groups for the control of drug trafficking in Santander.

En flagrancia fue capturada una mujer alias “La Muñeca” y “Leopoldo” con un arma de fuego en #Barrancabermeja. #SeguridadEnElTerritorio pic.twitter.com/sUrtS45Wkh

— Departamento de Policía Magdalena Medio (@PoliciaDEMAM) December 1, 2024

The newspaper also reports that "La Muñeca" (Spanish for 'The Doll') plunged into the criminal underworld at age 18, and was at the time of her arrest in charge of coordinating targeted assassinations, even arranging the killing of her ex-partner - a man known as "Orejas", or "Ears".

Another Colombian publication, El Espectador, estimates that more than 120 killings have taken place in the city of Barrancabermeja so far this year.

Spanish journalist Jacobo Solano Cerchiaro described Rodríguez as bold and strong-willed, comparing her to a character from Colombian soap operas.

“Her figure has attracted attention due to her resemblance to Mar­a Fernanda Yepes, who portrayed Rosario Tijeras in the Netflix series inspired by Jorge Franco’s novel about a female assassin in Medelli­n,” Cerchiaro wrote on X.

Un hilo 🧵 sobre este trino que se volvió viral y que alcanzó las 11 millones de vistas, y el cual me llevó a investigar algo más sobre esta joven que lideraba una banda de extorsión, sicariato y microtráfico en Barrancabermeja. Es considerada la sicaria más temida del… https://t.co/j3dQqJ1fA2

— Jacobo Solano Cerchiaro (@JACOBOSOLANOC) December 5, 2024

Cerchiaro also claims that the notorious "M" gang is very feared in the northern Colombia region, and is led from the Girón prison by a man named John Jairo Fernández Portala - known as 'Marihuano' (Marijuana) - with whom 'The Doll' had a relationship and visited him in prison to organise plans.

The journalist also reports that the authorities believe Rodríguez to be responsible for around 5 murders in total.

Officials have yet to announce the charges that Rodriguez and her alleged accomplices will face.