Medellin Hotel Closed Over Sexual Exploitation Allegations

Following the disclosure by authorities on March 28 of a child exploitation case involving a foreign individual and two minors at a hotel in Medellín, the city’s administration called for the Gotham Hotel, the site of the incident, to be seized. Consequently, the owners of the establishment, located in Antioquia’s capital, opted to shut it down permanently.

The incidents occurred after an individual from the United States, identified as Timothy Alan Livingston, 36 years old, violated the hotel’s policies, bypassed security measures, and entered the premises with two minors aged 12 and 13. This occurred hours after a security guard denied him entry with two other minors he attempted to bring in.

As investigations continued and with the suspect having fled back to his country the day following the incident, the hotel issued a statement announcing its voluntary and permanent closure. This decision came after the Medellin Mayor’s Office communicated with the establishment, leading to significant damage to its reputation. The statement also noted that the hotel is currently finalizing the termination of its employees and remains committed to assisting authorities in the investigation of the case involving two minors.

Details on the owner of Medellin’s Gotham Hotel

Bradley Hinkelman, a successful Canadian entrepreneur, owns the Gotham City Hotel. He has become a leading figure in Medellin’s real estate and hotel industries, overseeing a broad collection of luxury properties available on platforms such as Airbnb. In 2013, he founded Casacol S.A.S., positioning himself as a key source of legal counsel and investment opportunities within the hotel sector.

In the wake of a scandal at the Gotham Hotel, a property acquired by Bradley Hinkelman in January 2021 under Primavera Project S.A., ‘El Colombiano’ newspaper launched an investigation into Hinkelman for purported business connections with the son of the late drug trafficker, Gerardo “Kiko” Moncada. Representatives for the Canadian entrepreneur have issued a written statement expressing their lack of awareness of such affiliations, noting that the accusations remain under investigation.

Among the latest developments in the child exploitation case, Astrid Caseres, Director of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), confirmed in a press conference on April 9th that one of the minor victims had escaped from the protection center. She explained that efforts are underway to reintegrate the minor, and she also reported that joint efforts with the American Embassy and the Attorney General’s Office are being carried out to strengthen intervention in cases involving crimes against minors.