From a long experience of true love to a nightmarish captivity and seemingly senseless, cruel death.

It all ended for this couple last June 23, 2003. On earth, at least. Both were shot to death by their captors who feared discovery by military personnel engaged in nearby operations. The well-known victims had been held against their will for roughly the past six months. Not at all an uncommon occurrence these past 25 years in the sweltering tropics of South America.
It was around 1955 when young Helmut, a son of German immigrants, set his sights on the 15-year-old Doris Gil(pronounced heel) at a country fair. They would marry it turned out about 4 years later in November, 1958. Doris was eighteen. In 1957, Doris won the Miss Colombia beauty pageant. She was always exceptionally beautiful and, as a young woman, had a perfect figure. She had black eyes and black hair, a great smile that projected friendliness and humor. For 3 years she had studied in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thanks to her father, who had founded a radio or TV station that is still functioning.
Doris did not want to go to the Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach, California, in 1958 because she wanted to marry Helmut that same year(and he—her) and to stay by his side. Hence, she turned her crown or tiara over to Marina Zuluaga, who went in Doris’ stead and won the Miss Universe title for Colombia. Of course, realistically, it is quite possible that Doris recognized a bit more beauty in Marina’s face than she, Doris, possessed. This would certify her kindness. Nonetheless, both women were knockouts as regards beauty. It is like trying to determine which is lovelier or more breathtaking—mountains or beaches.
Although shy and protective of her privacy, Doris would be recognized constantly and be greeted as a celebrity by the public for the ensuing 45 years. Two celebrities—she and Helmut, the princess and her prince.
Helmut Bickenbach was a very handsome young blond Germanic-Colombian who had gone abroad to study agriculture, the “second” love of his life, and had returned to the land and people he’d forever choose. He was always to engage in cultivation in one form or another for the next 45 years. Sometimes he was highly successful, sometimes not. Helmut would never be any jet-set planter—owner of some vast plantation in the style of some Dole. Hence, even though they had their ups and downs financially, theirs was a conventional and seemingly traditional marriage in which splitting up was practically out of the question. In other words, they never fell OUT of love—an occurrence we see commonly these days that doesn’t greatly affect us.
Doris and Helmut parented 3 offspring whose names are Cristian, Dorotea, and Johana(Spanish spellings). They are undoubtedly very handsome children who are today approaching middle age.
In the end, Helmut, now 68 or 69 years old, received 4 cruel bullets in his thorax and back that bleak June day. Doris, 63, still stunning and loyal, received 7 bullet wounds of which 4 were in her back. Maybe their soulless captors had told them to run for it. We’ve seen this in the movies time after time. Maybe Doris tried to protect or shield her life’s love; hence, her 3 shots more. But this was no movie on June 23, 2003. It was real life. In a real, terribly-violent yet beautiful nation.
Goodbye Doris and Helmut. Not all is lost, however. The sacred love you shared was a genuine devotion that many, but many, souls would envy. And surely, many did.