Colombian authorities began a large-scale manhunt, deploying 2,000 soldiers and police officers into the jungle highlands surrounding Florencia to search for him.
President Álvaro Uribe offered 1 billion pesos (approximately €340,000, US$490,000) to anyone providing information leading to his safe return.
[4] On December 22, 2009, his body was recovered by security forces near Florencia,[5] after local villagers led troops to it.
[6] Colombian authorities began an investigation into the murder, and offered 1 billion pesos for information leading to the killers.
President Uribe sharply criticized the FARC for these statements, and called them an attempt to justify Cuellar's murder.
He was a very generous man; he loved to be with humble people", and added that she and her husband had spent 41 "wonderful" years together.
[7] In January 2010, Henry Lopez Sarmiento, the FARC commander suspected of masterminding Cuellar's kidnapping, was detained by Colombian authorities, and was charged with Abduction and Murder.