TikTok influencer, husband and two children found dead, wrapped in plastic in Guadalajara pickup

The bodies of a TikTok influencer, her husband and their two children were found wrapped in plastic inside an abandoned pickup truck in Guadalajara, Mexico, authorities said.

State prosecutors identified the victims as Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, 32, a social media influencer and singer; her husband, Roberto Carlos Gil Licea, 36; their son Gael Santiago, 13; and their daughter, Regina, 7. The gray Ford Ranger in which the bodies were discovered was located on Aug. 22, Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán, a state prosecutor, said at a news conference.

Investigators said surveillance video allowed them to trace the truck’s route to a nearby auto repair shop where they found bloodstains, spent bullet casings and ballistic evidence that indicate the family was likely killed at that location before being moved. "While the forensic results are not yet in, ballistic and blood evidence almost certainly confirm they were murdered at that location," Gutiérrez Santillán said.

Authorities have not released information on any arrests or identified suspects. Officials said forensic testing and ballistic analysis remain under way as investigators continue to review surveillance footage and follow leads related to the case.

Prosecutors and local police described the killings as resembling a cartel-style execution, a characterization commonly used by Mexican authorities for homicides that include execution-style tactics and the use of plastic wrappings. Jalisco state, where Guadalajara is the capital, has experienced significant violence tied to organized criminal groups in recent years, and authorities frequently attribute particularly violent homicides to such groups pending further investigation.

Gutiérrez Santillán said investigators were reconstructing the timeline leading up to the discovery and canvassing the area for additional surveillance footage and witnesses. He urged anyone with information to come forward to assist with the probe. Family members, colleagues and local residents had not publicly commented on the investigation as of the prosecutor’s briefing.

The case adds to a string of high-profile killings in Mexico that have drawn domestic and international attention to the country’s ongoing security challenges. Authorities said they will release additional findings as forensic results become available and as the investigation progresses.