Podcast Summary: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan: Killer ‘Shark Tank’ Contestant Allegedly Murders Teen Daughter of Ex: Revenge!

Date: February 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan” (hosted by Joseph Scott Morgan, with co-host Dave) dives deep into a chilling international crime: the alleged murder of two teenage girls via poisoning by Zulma Guzman Castro, a Colombian entrepreneur and former contestant on “Shark Tank Colombia.” The hosts unpack the details surrounding the deaths, the psychology and methods of poisoning, and the suspect’s international flight, drawing haunting parallels with infamous cases of revenge, poisonings, and forensic investigations.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The Thames and a Tale of Brokenness

• The conversation opens with Morgan’s storytelling about the historic and murky Thames River in London, highlighting its long, dark history as a place of secrets and tragedy.
  • Joseph Scott Morgan (02:09): “You never know what you’re going to find in the Thames… Sometimes you’ll find broken people perhaps floating in the Thames. Today on Body Bags, that’s what we’re going to discuss.”
• This serves as a metaphor for the case at hand, dealing with a “broken” person and a shocking act of violence.

2. The Crime: Poisoned Chocolate-Covered Raspberries

• The victims: Inés Debodeau (14) and Emilia Ferrero (13), best friends who were given chocolate-covered raspberries containing thallium, a tasteless and odorless poison. Both girls died four days after ingestion.
• Another potential victim, a 21-year-old woman, is also suspected to be involved, and another young woman suffered life-changing injuries.
  • Dave (04:44): “These two girls actually were given chocolate covered raspberries as a treat. But when they ingested them they ended up in the hospital. Four days later they died.”

3. The Suspect: Zulma Guzman Castro

• A well-known entrepreneur and contestant on “Shark Tank Colombia,” Castro is accused of orchestrating the murders as an act of revenge against her ex-boyfriend, whose daughter was among the victims. The relationship ended five years prior to the crimes.
  • Dave (09:20): “So Zulma Guzman Castro. Zulma Guzman Castro, that's her name. She is in her mid-50s... she used chocolate covered raspberries to poison on purpose, another human being.”
• Discussion on how unusual and evil it is to use such an innocent treat as a delivery mechanism for murder.
  • Joseph Scott Morgan (11:23): “Is there anything more tempting to a child than that? ... talking about London, I went to Harrods... all manner of different kinds of chocolate covered fruit.”

4. Motivation and the Psychology of Revenge

• The alleged crime is rooted in a long-term, failed romantic relationship. Castro reportedly targeted the ex-boyfriend’s family years after their breakup, possibly even poisoning his wife (who died of cancer) prior to this attack.
  • Dave (15:31): “What kind of simmering evil is there allegedly that would cause somebody to bring about this kind of pain on somebody five years after they ended a dating relationship?”

5. The Poison: Thallium—The “Poisoner’s Poison”

• Detailed, forensic discussion about thallium:
  • It’s an odorless, tasteless, colorless, and highly toxic heavy metal.
  • Formerly used as rodenticide and in nuclear medicine; banned for such uses due to its danger.
  • Extremely hard to detect until it’s too late; produces brutal symptoms (seizures, neurological breakdown, heart rhythm disruption).
  • Detection in victims can be possible through exhumation and hair analysis.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • Joseph Scott Morgan (21:04):

      “Out of all the substances that this perpetrator, alleged perpetrator might choose, she actually chose one of the single most poisonous substances known to man. And it's naturally occurring.”

    • Joseph Scott Morgan (25:36):

      “You'll see things like seizures, tremendous headaches, tremors, inability to talk, like dysphonia... lesions on skin as well. Ataxia... brain and central nervous system... you run the risk of having some kind of cardiac event. It's a very slippery slope.”

6. Connection to Previous and Other Cases

• Comparison to other poisonings, including the famous Tylenol murders, Soviet assassination by umbrella, and more recent cases involving domestic revenge and obscure toxins.
  • Joseph Scott Morgan (13:23):

    “Think about the Tylenol, the Tylenol murders that took place all those years ago. And that’s a randomized kind of thing.”

7. Medical and Forensic Challenges

• Discussion on how doctors might discover the cause of these poisonings only after seeing specific neurological symptoms in tandem in children.
  • Symptoms can mimic strokes or unexplained cardiac events in very young patients.
  • Recovery, if possible, is long and difficult.
  • Joseph Scott Morgan (35:11):

    “They were taken to the hospital and these two little girls, 13 and 14, lived for four days… I'm using the term lived, but that ain't living. It would have been an excruciating miserable existence.”

8. The Suspect’s Background and International Flight

• Castro’s background as a respected businesswoman is discussed, highlighting a shocking double life.

• She managed to evade Interpol and traveled across South America and Europe, ultimately being found after jumping into the Thames (possibly as an act of desperation or to feign insanity).

  • Dave (43:04):

    “We do know that she was or is smart enough to be able to get away from her nation, to get away from interpolation. She's able to get away from everybody except the Tims.”

  • Journey: Colombia → Argentina → Brazil → Spain → UK.

• On her connection to electronic vehicles and potential thallium access:

  • Joseph Scott Morgan (41:44):

    “Now that you say that, you know, I know that lithium batteries are used, you know, in those things... thallium is used first off in medicine relative to nuclear medicine. And then it's used also in optics, like lenses... But it's also used in electronics. Now that's a fascinating sourcing possibility.”

9. Forensic Hopes and Legal Aftermath

• Authorities are investigating the possible exhumation of the ex-boyfriend’s wife to test for thallium poisoning, which could increase the charges against Castro.

  • Joseph Scott Morgan (29:28):

    “The thing about thallium and heavy metals, guess what? You can actually exhume bodies and you can find evidence of exposure…”

• Emphasizes the difficulty in both forensically detecting thallium and proving intent or guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

10. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On evil and intent:

  • Joseph Scott Morgan (16:40):

    “It's pure evil and it's ghoulish on one level… Your hurt feelings or jealousy… more important than the lives of these people, these youngsters...”

• On the horror of poison:

  • Joseph Scott Morgan (39:56):

    “Each particular type of poison brings about its own terror… the history of it is, is absolutely, you know, just positively horrific.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:09] - The Thames as metaphor; episode setup
• [04:44] - Details of the murder case; victim introduction
• [09:20] - Suspect’s background (Zulma Guzman Castro); Shark Tank Colombia context
• [11:23] - Use of chocolate and raspberries as weapon
• [13:23], [14:04] - The psychology and risk of poisoning
• [21:04] - Forensic deep dive on thallium, usage, and toxicity
• [25:36] - Medical presentation and complications of thallium poisoning
• [29:28] - Thallium and forensic detection in exhumed remains
• [35:11] - Victims' suffering and the aftermath of poisoning
• [41:44] - Investigation into suspect's work and thallium sourcing
• [43:04] - Timeline of suspect’s international escape and capture
• [46:05] - Closing thoughts on suspect’s mental state and legal process

Closing Thoughts

Morgan and Dave close the episode reflecting on the chilling nature of the crimes, the extraordinary lengths the alleged perpetrator went to cover her tracks, and the devastating effects—physical, emotional, forensic—of this kind of murder. The episode balances forensic detail with a haunting sense of tragedy and moral outrage.

Joseph Scott Morgan (46:15):

“Here we are. Here we are. And now she is going to be held to account for what she has done. Are they going to be able to prove either guilt or innocence? I don't know. But the path, the wake if you will, that she has left behind has far extended beyond the banks of the Thames river in London.”

This summary delivers the major facts, context, and emotional tone of the episode, highlighting the intersection of forensics, human psychology, and a global search for justice.