Juan Carlos Villa Cardona was born in 1991 in Colombia. Public information about his early life remains limited, and there is no clear record of his upbringing, education, or employment before his first known murder in 2012. Authorities described him as a manipulative individual who often posed as a person with a physical disability. This false persona allowed him to build trust with strangers, especially elderly individuals, in the regions where he frequently moved.

His psychological profile, developed after his arrest, aligned with typical serial killer behavior: lack of remorse, high degree of manipulation, and repeated acts of violence over an extended period. Authorities also noted that Villa showed no signs of guilt when confessing to the murders, which included elderly people and at least one minor. He often used deception to gather personal information before striking in isolated or rural areas.

Juan Carlos was not acting alone in some cases. His brother, José Alfredo Villa, confessed to being involved in at least two of the murders. Investigators also found possible indications that their father had participated in the earliest killings. Authorities believe more victims may exist beyond the 11 confirmed murders, but no additional charges have been made public at this time.

The killing spree of Juan Carlos Villa Cardona spanned more than a decade, across multiple municipalities in Colombia's Risaralda Department—including Pereira, Dosquebradas, Marsella, Santa Rosa de Cabal, and El Santuario. His method was calculated yet simple: he posed as a disabled man, gained the trust of his targets, and then lured them to secluded areas where he would attack—often stabbing them in the back.

The first confirmed murders occurred in March 2012, when the bodies of Francisco Javier Gaviria Valencia and Fanny Ortiz Cruz were found near Marsella. It was later revealed that Villa and his father had murdered them and stolen money from one of the victims. In 2013, he killed a cheese vendor in Pereira along a trail between Kennedy and Comuneros de Dosquebradas.

Years later, in October 2021, Villa struck again. He fatally stabbed 66-year-old Holmes Giraldo Restrepo in a room in Pereira’s Llano Grande Alto neighborhood. By May 2023, his younger brother, José Alfredo Villa, had joined him. Together, they murdered Henry López Giraldo in an attempt to steal copper cables.

In August 2023, Juan Carlos committed four more murders—one body was found on a farm known as El Espinazo in El Santuario. His final known murder occurred on September 23, 2023, on a farm in Dosquebradas. That killing triggered intensified efforts by law enforcement, leading to his arrest four days later on September 27.

Following his capture, Villa confessed to all 11 murders without remorse. His brother also admitted to taking part in at least two of them. Villa’s disturbing calmness during confession was noted as a psychological red flag. Authorities expressed concern that the true number of victims may be higher, given the pattern and duration of his crimes.

On March 20, 2024, Juan Carlos Villa Cardona was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He is currently incarcerated and serving his sentence, with no known appeal or additional trial date pending for further murders.