Crime
Leaked Messages Between Coworker and Friend Reveal Chilling Setup in Murder of Influencer Valeria Marquez
JALISCO, Mexico — Popular social media influencer Valeria Marquez was tragically killed on May 13 while broadcasting a livestream to her followers from the salon where she worked.
The 23-year-old was gunned down inside Blossom the Beauty Lounge in Jalisco, in an apparent ambush that authorities are now investigating as a femicide.
Marquez, who had nearly 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, was known for her beauty tutorials, lifestyle content, and modeling posts.
On the day of her death, she was live on social media when a man posing as a gift delivery person arrived at the salon.
Moments later, he opened fire, striking her twice in the head and once in the chest, killing her instantly.
Several of her followers reportedly witnessed the horrifying incident as it unfolded on camera.
According to the Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office, the murder is being investigated as femicide, a classification used when women are targeted and killed because of their gender.
Authorities are now focused on unraveling the circumstances leading up to the attack — and disturbing new evidence suggests Marquez may have been set up by individuals close to her.
Emerging evidence includes leaked private messages between two women allegedly linked to Marquez: Erika, who worked with her and was present during the livestream, and Viviana, a friend who had reportedly sent Marquez a coffee and a stuffed animal earlier in the day.
Screenshots of their conversation, allegedly captured shortly before the murder, raise suspicions of a coordinated setup:
- Erika: “Everything has to go well, you understand? You don’t know the amount of trouble you’ll be in if it doesn’t go as planned.”
- Viviana: “Vivi, I’m afraid. What if they do something to me too?”
- Erika: “They won’t do anything to you. Just make sure you’re not next to her when they get there. Turn off her phone when they arrive.”
- Viviana: “Okay, I trust you, but all of this scares me.”
These chilling messages suggest that Marquez was lured into staying at the salon under the pretense of receiving an “expensive gift” — a ploy that allegedly culminated in her execution-style killing.
Witness accounts confirm that Erika, who was with Marquez before and during the livestream, abruptly ended the broadcast moments after the shots were fired.
Police have not yet announced any arrests, but are actively pursuing leads based on digital communications, witness testimony, and surveillance footage.
Authorities are working to verify the authenticity of the leaked messages and determine the roles of the individuals involved.
Valeria Marquez’s death has sparked outrage across social media platforms, with many demanding justice for the young influencer and drawing attention to the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in Mexico.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact local authorities.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.