X Factor star Zair Guette kidnapped, tortured and murdered in horrific attack in Colombia

Former X-Factor Colombia singer Zair Guette has been found dead after being kidnapped, tortured and murdered in a horrific attack in a remote part of the South American country.

The 25-year-old’s body was found with a gunshot wound — gagged and with his feet bound — on Friday, February 14, according to The Mirror.

He was found in a grass field in the town of Ginebra, about 400km from the country’s capital, Bogota, according to the report.

The star’s manager, Teddy Guevara, 35, was found alive nearby with a number of gunshot wounds and a zip tie around his neck.

Guevara told police the pair were kidnapped by multiple men before being tortured.

Guette was a contestant on Colombia’s version of The X Factor but also participated in a number of TV shows in the country, including Yo Me Llamo, which roughly translates to My Name Is.

Guette was a reportedly a target of a local gang in the area after the murders of Rafael Vega and his sons, Ray and Ronald Vega Daza — all members of the Vega Daza criminal organisation.

The musical star’s career was reportedly financed by Jorge “Castor” Collazos, leader of rival gang Los Costenos, who allegedly ordered his henchmen to take out the Vega Daza clan.

A law enforcement official told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that Guette received a call for a singing contract in Bogota, according to UK’s MailOnline.

“The first versions would indicate that the singer did not receive any advance payment for that alleged contract,” the source told El Tiempo.

“An investigation is being carried out to determine whether that call was part of the plan to kill him.”

Investigators are hoping to find the mobile phones belonging to Guette and Guevara in an attempt to find further information.