Ecuador's Youngest Serial Killer

Juan Fernando Hermosa Suarez was known as the “Child of Terror.” He is the youngest serial killer in Ecuador, taking his first life at the young age of 15.

Adopted by Olivio Fonseca and Zoila Amada Suarez Meja, Juan stayed home with his mother most of the time while his dad traveled for work.

Juan and his friends often caused trouble in the neighborhood. By age 15, he formed and led a gang of teens who often terrorized the community, starting fights at bars and clubs, robbing their victims of valuables in the process.

Juan Shoots a Taxi Cab Driver

On November 22, 1991, the gang members took a taxi to 10 de Agosto Avenue. Upon arrival, Suarez shot the taxi driver in the head with a 9mm handgun. Another gang member drove the taxi to Los Chillos Valley and dumped his body in the woods.

Over 20 People Dead

The next week, Suarez and his gang went to a hairdresser’s shop. The shop was operated by a transvestite person called Charlie who invited Suarez over for drinks. At Charlie’s home, Suarez shot him five times.

Over the next four months, Suarez killed more than 20 people, including 11 homosexual individuals, 8 taxi cab drivers, his friend, and a truck driver. All of the victims were shot with the same 9mm handgun.

The teen’s murderous rampage ended when a group of teens involved in a crime revealed his identity to police.

Police Standoff Ends in Death

On January 9, 1992, police found Suarez at his home. They entered through a skylight facing his room. On this night, Suarez slept in his mother’s room. The noise alerted Suarez to police presence. He began firing at officers with the 9mm pistol. Officers returned fire and a group of townspeople threw two grenades into the home. The explosion killed two policemen and officers shot Suarez’s mother 11 times. During the gunfire, Suarez attempted to escape the home through a back window but was captured and taken into custody without as much as a scratch on his body. It was at this time police learned Suarez was a teenager.

Suarez stated, “I want to make it clear that my name is Juan Fernando Hermosa Suarez and that on February 28 I will be 16-years-old.” He went on to claim that he did not intend to kill anyone. He wanted his victims to stay quiet but if they did not, he killed them. He told police that one of the murders occurred after a taxi cab driver attacked him with a wheel wrench and that he only defends himself against the man.

Suarez Convicted of Murders

Suarez was convicted of the murders and sentenced to the maximum juvenile sentence possible: four years of lockup. It took little time for Suarez to become the leader of the facility. In 1993, he convinced his girlfriend to bring him a handgun. He used the gun to kill a police officer, then escape from the facility with 10 other teen boys.

Suarez Captured, Released, Murdered

Suarez fled to Colombia where he was captured a short time later. The teen completed his sentence and was released in 1996. He relocated to Nueva Loja with his father. On his 20th birthday, Suarez was found dead on the banks of a river, his face severely disfigured and his body showing signs of torture with a machete. Five masked people murdered the young man, his body identifiable only through the identification card found in his wallet.

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