Ex-Footballer Abel Stiven Carabal Arrested Over Brutal Murder of Friend

Santiago: A former Colombian footballer, Abel Stiven Carabal, has been arrested in Chile in connection with a shocking murder case that has gripped local authorities and drawn international attention.

According to Ghana Web, the investigation began after firefighters in the Curacav­ area, on the outskirts of Santiago, responded to a fire and made a disturbing discovery: the remains of a man who had been brutally killed before his body was set alight. Authorities later alleged that the victim, also a Colombian national, had been tortured and decapitated before being transported from Santiago to Curacav­.

Investigators say Carabal is suspected of playing a central role in the crime, alongside an accomplice. Prosecutors claim the pair moved the body from the capital region before attempting to destroy evidence by burning it. A Bible was reportedly found placed near the victim's head, a detail that has added further intrigue to an already disturbing case.

Authorities also revealed that the victim had known Carabal for several years, with reports suggesting the two shared a friendship dating back to their involvement in football circles in Colombia. However, officials have not yet confirmed a clear motive, though early lines of investigation point toward possible links to organised crime activity.

Carabal's arrest followed what officials described as a coordinated investigation involving forensic evidence and surveillance tracking. He is currently in custody as prosecutors prepare formal charges, while the case continues to unfold in Chile's judicial system.