Mexican Influencer and Family Executed in Suspected Cartel Hit, Bodies Found Wrapped in Plastic in Pickup Truck

Esmeralda died along with her husband and children

The bodies of influencer and TikTok personality Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, 32, her husband Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, and their two children, Gael Santiago, 13, and Regina, 7, were discovered executed and wrapped in plastic inside their abandoned pickup truck in Guadalajara, Mexico, authorities confirmed.

Prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán said the victims were found in a gray Ford Ranger on August 22. Surveillance footage led investigators to a nearby auto repair shop, where bloodstains, spent bullet casings, and ballistic evidence indicated the family was likely killed before their bodies were relocated.

Two blokes present at the garage were brought in for questioning but were subsequently freed owing to insufficient evidence

“While forensic results are not yet complete, ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm the family was murdered at that location,” Santillán said. Two men were initially detained at the shop but later released due to insufficient evidence.

In a shocking development, both men were kidnapped by armed assailants just minutes after leaving the prosecutor’s office. They were intercepted while meeting acquaintances, with three of the four individuals taken and one managing to escape. Prosecutor Blanca Trujillo said the attackers had waited for over two hours, pointing to a planned operation. It remains unclear whether the kidnapping was connected to the murder of Garibay and her family.

Esmeralda and spouse Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, died alongside their son and daughter

The family’s identities were confirmed on August 28, and investigators believe Gil Licea was the likely target. Though Garibay frequently shared content flaunting designer brands, luxury cars, cosmetic surgeries, and lavish vacations with her more than 44,000 TikTok followers, authorities said there is no evidence linking her or her husband to cartel membership. However, some of her videos featured narco-corridos, ballads glorifying cartel life, with captions such as “Advantages of having a narco boyfriend.”

Despite the social media persona, Gil Licea was reportedly involved in selling vehicles and tomato farming in Michoacán, one of Mexico’s most dangerous regions. The couple had recently relocated to Guadalajara seeking work opportunities before their deaths.

Authorities continue to investigate the murders and the subsequent kidnapping, while awaiting testimony from the lone survivor of the ambush.

The abandoned pickup was located in Guadalajara, Mexico