TikTok Star, 32, Found Dead in Car With Husband and 2 Children: Report

TikTok star Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay and her family were reportedly found dead inside a car in Mexico.

The Daily Mail reported that authorities found Esmeralda, 32, and husband Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36, and kids Gael Santiago, 13, and Regina, 7, dead on August 22. The family’s identity was later shared on Thursday, August 28.

“The scene was processed, and investigators found multiple pieces of evidence suggesting the family was killed there,” prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán said in a statement to the outlet on Friday, August 29.

The statement continued, “While the forensic results are not yet in, ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location.”

Investigators were allegedly able to track part of the vehicle’s route, leading them to a mechanic’s workshop. While two men at the workshop were taken in to give statements, the outlet reported that they were released because of a lack of evidence.

When the two men left the prosecutor’s office, two others had allegedly been waiting for them. The outlet reported that “armed men intercepted the group” and took three of them, with one escaping. While three of the men are allegedly missing, authorities are searching for the fourth to obtain his statement.

“Investigations show the perpetrators had been watching the exit for over two hours,” Prosecutor Blanca Trujillo said in a statement to The Daily Mail. “It wasn’t an immediate attack — they waited until the group had moved a few metres before carrying out the abduction.”

The Daily Mail reported that the influencer — who has more than 41,000 followers on TikTok — and her family moved to the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico, for work months before they were killed. Her husband was allegedly involved in buying and selling cars and tomato farming before his death.

Esmeralda’s last TikTok video was shared on August 7, with the comments section of the post now filled with users mourning her death. The post has more than 2.5 million views.

Days before, Esmeralda shared a video of a white pomeranian puppy playing in the grass outside while a toddler ran in the background. “Mi bebé,” Esmeralda captioned the upload, which translates to “my baby” in English.

“Rip baby girl. Does anyone know if the puppy is OK?” one user wrote after the family’s death, while another added, “poor baby.” A third wrote, “rest in peace. 🫶🏽 all of their lives matter.”