American Airlines flight attendant found dead near Medellin, Colombia, mayor says

A lifeless body believed to be an American Airlines flight attendant was discovered Friday between the municipalities of Jericó and Puente Iglesias near Medellin, city Mayor Fico Gutiérrez said, as authorities searched for the missing crew member.

The deceased has not yet been formally identified, but officials and family members say there is a very high probability it is 32-year-old Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, a U.S. citizen and North Texas resident who went missing after a night out in Medellin's El Poblado neighborhood on Saturday evening, according to relatives and Colombian officials.

Gutierrez Molina had been scheduled to work a return flight from Medellín to Miami on Sunday, and his longtime partner, Ernesto Carranza, told CBS News he became alarmed when he could not reach him that morning. Carranza said the missing crew member's phone later pinged to two locations in Medellin that were not near his hotel.

Mayor Gutiérrez posted on social media that the body is being taken to Medellin's coroner's office for identification and that he personally notified the victim's father, who is in the city. The mayor added that an investigation is underway, but provided no further details.

Friends told CBS News the other flight attendant with Gutierrez Molina could not remember parts of the night. American Airlines said it is "actively engaged with local law enforcement officials in their investigation and doing all we can to support our team member's family during this time."

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia said it was restricted from commenting on most individual cases, while the State Department said it is "aware" of reports and is closely tracking the situation and stands ready to provide consular assistance.

Authorities have not released a cause of death or reported any arrests; the body is in the coroner's office pending formal identification and the investigation remains ongoing.