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The term Colombian Necktie comes up on tonight’s episode of American Crime Story: The People V. OJ Simpson. So, what is a Colombian Necktie exactly? The definition of the term is “a method of murder wherein the victim’s throat is slashed horizontally, with a knife or other sharp object, and his or her tongue is pulled out through the open wound.” It has also been defined as this:
A form of post-mortem mutilation consisting of a deep incision under the victim’s chin, through which the tongue is pulled out and left hanging down in grisly semblance to a necktie. A male victim’s genitals are sometimes also severed and put in the mouth. It originated in Colombia during the period of political violence known as La Violencia, as a method of psychological warfare, meant to scare and intimidate.
Some have credited the invention of this term to drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, but this is not accurate.
During the OJ Simpson murder trial, one of the theories brought up by the defense was that Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman received Colombian Neckties in their deaths. The theory was that they were killed by drug dealers to who Nicole’s friend Faye Resnick owed money. This theory did not hold water as evidence in the case.
Colombian necktie can also be called a Colombian necklace.