TikToker and Narco Ballad Fan Esmeralda FG, Husband and Children Murdered in Guadalajara

TikTok influencer Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, known online as Esmeralda FG, her husband, and their two children were discovered murdered inside their pickup truck in a chilling quadruple homicide that has attracted national attention in Mexico.

On Friday, August 22, 2025, authorities uncovered an abandoned gray Ford Ranger in Guadalajara, on Jorge Delorme Street, containing the bodies of Esmeralda, 32, her husband Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, their 13‑year‑old son Gael Santiago, and their 7‑year‑old daughter, Regina. Their identities were confirmed six days later, on August 28. Authorities confirmed that the family had recently moved to downtown Guadalajara.

Esmeralda had amassed a substantial following on TikTok, with approximately 22,000 followers and over 500,000 likes. Her content blended lavish displays featuring designer Her postings showcased designer labels such as Gucci and Dior, luxury cars, cosmetic surgery transformations, beach getaways, and moments with her children, Pomeranian pets, with lip-synced narco-corridos.

What set her apart was her embrace of narco-corridos, Mexican ballads glorifying drug trafficking culture. One viral video featured the phrase "Advantages of having a narco boyfriend." Her final post, published on August 7, had already garnered over 100,000 views; several others reached more than 600,000.

However, preliminary findings point to Roberto's involvement in vehicle trading and tomato farming in Michoacán as a likely motive, potentially attracting violent interest from organized crime groups. Authorities emphasize that Esmeralda's social media presence, marked by glamorous lifestyle posts and narco-themed content, is not believed to be the primary reason behind the attack.

Using CCTV footage and Ministry of Security and National Guard data, investigators traced the truck's path back to a nearby mechanic's workshop on Ejido Avenue. When authorities raided the workshop, they discovered bloodstains, spent bullet casings, and ballistic evidence, all indicating that the family was likely executed at the site before being transported in the vehicle.

Prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán stated, "While the forensic results are not yet in, ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location. While the forensic results are not yet in, ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location."

Two workshop workers, identified as Héctor Manuel Valdivia Martínez and a suspect nicknamed "El Chino," were detained but later released due to insufficient evidence. On leaving the prosecutor's office, they, along with two relatives, were abducted by an armed group. El Chino escaped, while the other three remain missing. Prosecutor Blanca Trujillo noted that the abductors "had been watching the exit for over two hours," underscoring the calculated nature of their actions.

Originally published on Latin Times