Mexican TikTok influencer, 32, her husband, son & daughter found dead in truck, bodies wrapped in plastic

A Mexican TikTok influencer was found dead in a car in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 22, 2025.

The bodies of Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, 32, was found wrapped in plastic along with the bodies of her husband, Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, their son, Gael Santiago, 13, and daughter, Regina, seven, according to New York Post.

They were believed to have been executed cartel-style.

Bodies abandoned near mechanic shop

The bodies were found inside a grey Ford Ranger pickup truck, which was left at a mechanic shop in the city's San Andrés neighbourhood.

Prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán revealed in a press conference that forensic investigators traced the vehicle's movements to a nearby auto repair shop using surveillance footage.

They uncovered bloodstains, spent bullet casings, with ballistic evidence suggesting that the execution occurred at that location before the bodies were later shifted to the truck.

Although forensic results are still pending, all evidence strongly indicated a premeditated killing at the workshop site.

Men arrested but later released

Authorities detained two men associated with the mechanic shop for questioning.

However, due to insufficient evidence, they were released.

Shortly after leaving the prosecutor's office, the two men and two of their relatives were abducted by armed attackers, reported The Independent.

One person managed to escape while the others remain missing, suggesting a coordinated effort possibly connected to criminal networks.

The circumstances highlight the chilling efficiency of cartel operations and raise concerns about intimidation and witness safety during the investigation.

Husband could be the main target of the murder

According to New York Post and The Independent, Garibay had amassed a substantial TikTok following of between 43,000 to over 46,000 followers through lifestyle videos showcasing designer labels, cosmetic enhancements, luxury vehicles, and travels.

Her content sometimes featured lip-syncs to "narcocorridos", which are ballads glorifying the country's drug culture.

Despite her posts, authorities do not currently have evidence of Garibay or her husband being affiliated with cartels.

Instead, investigators suspect that Licea's business ventures in Michoacán, specifically vehicle trading and tomato farming, may have attracted the attention of organised crime groups.

Top photos via @esmeraldafg222/TikTok & informador.mx