John Freddy Arellan grew up poor, but became a squash champion and gained membership to one of Bogota's most exclusive clubs.
But a rebel car bomb exploded at the club on February 7, killing Arellan, 26, his uncle and 34 other people and wounding 160.
Now, in a case that has riveted
Colombians and shattered Arellan's grieving family, officials are investigating whether he helped mount the worst terrorist attack in Colombia in more than a decade.
The bombing of the Club El Nogal was part of an urban terrorist campaign by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
The leftist rebels would have needed help with attacks in cities.
US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents who helped in the probe determined the bomb exploded inside a red Renault Megane. A Bogota car dealer has told authorities and journalists that Arellan paid cash for a red Renault Megane.
Arellan came into some money last year. He also bought a Club El Nogal membership.
El Tiempo says that once Arellan got access to the club and planted the bomb, he was no longer useful to the rebels, and they arranged for him to die in the blast to eliminate him as a witness. The bomb went off earlier than he had expected.
