A Mexican TikTok influencer and her family were found dead inside an abandoned pickup truck in Guadalajara on August 22, 2025, with their bodies wrapped in plastic in what authorities suspect was a cartel-style execution. Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, 32, her husband Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, and their two children, 13-year-old Gael Santiago and seven-year-old Regina, were discovered in a gray Ford Ranger in the San Andrés neighborhood.
The family’s identities were confirmed on August 28, nearly a week after their remains were found. Garibay, known on TikTok as Esmeralda FG, had amassed more than 46,000 followers on the platform, where she posted lifestyle videos showcasing designer brands, luxury cars, and cosmetic surgery transformations.
Investigators used surveillance footage and data from the Ministry of Security and National Guard to trace the Ford Ranger’s movements back to an auto repair shop on Ejido Avenue. At the shop, police discovered bloodstains, spent bullet casings, and other ballistic evidence suggesting the family was murdered there before being transported and abandoned elsewhere.
Prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán indicated during a press conference that “ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location.” He noted that while forensic results were pending, the evidence strongly suggested the family was killed at the repair shop.
Two men employed by the workshop were initially detained but later released after the Public Prosecutor’s Office found insufficient evidence to connect them to the crime. In an unexpected development, the two suspects and two of their relatives were abducted by armed assailants while leaving the prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor Blanca Trujillo revealed that the attackers had been monitoring the exit for more than two hours, indicating a carefully orchestrated operation. One of the four abducted individuals managed to escape, while the other three remained missing.
Garibay’s final TikTok post on August 7 showed her driving her car on a ranch, overlaid with a message about her neighborhood and weather conditions. The video received three million views. Her content often featured luxury items including Dior, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton products, as well as high-end vehicles and expensive vacations.
The influencer also posted lip-syncing videos to narco-corridos, Mexican ballads that glorify drug trafficking culture. One of her viral videos featured the phrase “Advantages of having a narco boyfriend,” which garnered nearly 140,000 views and showed her posing with a Gucci handbag.
Despite the social media content suggesting cartel connections, investigators indicated they did not believe Garibay’s online activity was the primary motive for the family’s killing. Instead, authorities suspect her husband Licea was the intended target. He was involved in vehicle trading and tomato farming in Michoacán, a region the U.S. State Department lists as one of Mexico’s most dangerous states.
The family had recently relocated from Michoacán to Guadalajara seeking better job opportunities. Local reports suggested that Licea’s business dealings in vehicle sales and agriculture may have made him a target for organized crime groups operating in the region.
The Specialized Investigation Unit for Intentional Homicides is working with the Jalisco Security Secretary, the National Guard, and other federal agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for the murders. The case highlights the ongoing challenges Mexican authorities face in combating cartel violence that has plagued the country.
The manner of the killings, with bodies wrapped in plastic and dumped in an abandoned vehicle, bears the hallmarks of organized crime executions common in regions where drug cartels operate. The subsequent abduction of the workshop employees suggests potential witness intimidation or retaliation attempts.
Garibay’s TikTok account, which began with comedic lip-syncing content in April 2020, had evolved to focus on lifestyle and travel content as her following grew. Her posts often displayed wealth and luxury that stood in stark contrast to the violence that ultimately claimed her and her family’s lives.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine whether the murders were directly connected to organized crime activities or if the family became victims of the broader violence affecting the region. The case underscores the risks faced by those living in areas where cartel operations intersect with legitimate business activities.
