Garibay, along with her husband and two children, were discovered dead inside an abandoned pickup truck. New York Post
Authorities in Mexico discovered the bodies of influencer and singer Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, 32, her husband Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, and their two children, Gael Santiago, 13, and Regina, 7. Officials said all four were wrapped in plastic and abandoned inside a grey Ford Ranger pickup truck in Guadalajara on August 22.
Prosecutor Alfonso Gutierrez Santillan confirmed the discovery during a press conference. He described the killings as a cartel-style execution.
Evidence Points to Execution Site
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that tracked the truck’s movements. The vehicle led them to a nearby auto repair shop. Inside, officers found blood, shell casings, and other ballistic evidence.
“While the forensic results are not yet in, ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location,” Santillan told reporters.
Police believe the family was killed at the shop before their bodies were moved.
Suspects Questioned and Kidnapped
Two men connected to the repair shop were detained for questioning. Authorities later released them because of insufficient evidence.
But minutes after their release, armed men kidnapped both suspects along with two acquaintances outside the prosecutor’s office. Three were taken, while one escaped.
Prosecutor Blanca Trujillo said the gunmen waited for more than two hours before striking. Officials have not confirmed whether the attack linked to the family’s murders. Police plan to interview the survivor to gather more information.
Husband Believed to Be Target
Authorities confirmed the family’s identities on August 28. Reports suggest that Roberto Carlos Gil Licea may have been the intended target.
While Garibay often posted luxury brands, vacations, and lip-sync videos to narco-ballads on TikTok, investigators have not found direct cartel ties. She had over 44,000 followers and sometimes implied that her husband had connections to organized crime.
One video showed her posing with a Gucci handbag alongside the caption, “Advantages of having a narco boyfriend.” It gained nearly 140,000 views.
However, local media reported that Gil Licea worked in car sales and tomato farming in Michoacan, one of Mexico’s most dangerous states. These activities may have attracted the attention of crime groups.
Move from Michoacan
The family recently relocated from Michoacan to Guadalajara. Friends said they moved in search of safer living conditions and new work opportunities.
Authorities continue to investigate the killings, which have shocked the community and left residents demanding justice.
