"The Monster of the Andes": Pedro Alonso López Murdered Hundreds of Children in South America and Then Disappeared

Colombian-born serial killer Pedro Alonso López grew up on the harsh streets of Bogotá. His years of victimization and abuse turned him into a savage and pitiless killer.

Depiction of Pedro Alonso López

Background

It’s not surprising that a brutal upbringing is likely going to create a brutal human being, especially when one’s innocent hopes and dreams are extinguished at an early age.

But Pedro López didn’t just grow up to be cruel. He grew up to become a monster.

Early Years

Pedro Alonso López’s mother, Benilda López de Castañeda, was a prostitute in a rough part of Colombia who had made poor choices, not only in regard to her profession but generally throughout her life.

When Pedro was born on October 8, 1948, she already had six other children and would go on to have another six in quick succession, with most of them from different fathers.

Megdardo Reyes was Pedro’s father but he was already dead by the time Pedro came into the world, a casualty of the 10-year civil war called La Violencia. Leaving Pedro devoid of any true father figure growing up.

What he did experience was a chaotic and often violent home life where a procession of men meted out disci…