Influencer Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay and Her Family Found Dead in Guadalajara
Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay’s life played out on TikTok in videos of her dog, her ranch, and the occasional Gucci handbag. To her more than 43,000 followers, she was a voice of glamour and everyday joy. That made the news of her death, and that of her husband and two children, all the more devastating.
Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay and her family were found inside a pickup truck
On August 22, four bodies wrapped in plastic were discovered inside a gray Ford Ranger abandoned in the San Andrés neighborhood of Guadalajara, Mexico. Prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán confirmed at a press conference that the victims were Ferrer Garibay, 32, her husband Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, and their two children, Gael Santiago, 13, and Regina, 7.
Authorities said the killings appear linked to cartel violence. CCTV footage traced the truck’s route back to a nearby mechanic’s shop, where investigators found bloodstains, bullet casings, and other ballistic evidence. Gutiérrez Santillán stated that “ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location.”
Suspects were arrested, then abducted after release
The investigation quickly turned turbulent. Two workers from the auto repair shop, identified as Héctor Manuel Valdivia Martínez and a man nicknamed “El Chino,” were detained but later released due to insufficient evidence.
Minutes after leaving the prosecutor’s office, the men and two relatives were ambushed by an armed group. “The attackers had been watching the exit for more than two hours,” prosecutor Blanca Trujillo said, as reported by local media. One man managed to escape, while three others remain missing.
Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay’s digital presence raised questions
Ferrer Garibay launched her TikTok account in 2020, beginning with comedic lip-syncs before transitioning into lifestyle and travel content. As her platform grew, she often showcased luxury fashion, cars, cosmetic procedures, and vacations.
Her videos also included lip-syncs to narco-corridos, ballads that glorify drug cartels. In one post, she included the caption “Advantages of having a narco boyfriend” while posing with a Gucci bag. Authorities have not confirmed links between the influencer‘s family and organized crime. Still, some outlets noted speculation that her husband’s work in vehicle sales and tomato farming in Michoacán may have made him a target.
