An influencer from Mexico who was allegedly killed by a cartel leader pre-empted her death with a haunting message.
On Tuesday (May 13), Valeria Marquez lost her life in her own beauty salon when a gunman disguised as a delivery man - believed to be 'Doble R' of the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel - burst into the building and opened fire. The 23-year-old was livestreaming at the time, and was struck twice in the head and once in her chest.
Mexican publication El Heraldo reported Doble R as the murder case's prime suspect. However, investigators have said there were currently 'no specific allegations' in the case.
The two had been romantically linked for several months prior to the tragedy, but Valeria seemingly knew her end was near.
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Initial reports suggest Doble R became enraged over her receiving expensive gifts from online followers, potentially triggering his violent wrath.
Just hours before she was murdered inside Blossom Beauty, Valeria claimed during a livestream that an employee named Erika had informed her that someone sent a valuable gift that could not be delivered without her presence.
The influencer asked her followers during the broadcast: "They came in the morning to get me to give me a gift. Did they want to kill me?"
She'd also previously alleged that her ex-partner had threatened her life and warned that if anything happened to her, he should be held accountable.
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In light of a local media frenzy, prosecutors are downplaying speculation at this early stage.
"In response to media reports that directly point to the alleged perpetrators of the murder of a woman, which occurred yesterday in Zapopan, the State Attorney General's Office clarifies that, to date, there are no specific allegations in the investigation file," they commented on Wednesday (May 14).
The investigation, which is ongoing, falls under Mexico's femicide protocol - typically actioned for cases involving gender-based crime.
The Daily Mail reports that Doble R's criminal history allegedly dates back to 2012, including supposed involvement in the killing of model Daisy Ferrer Arenas, whose corpse turned in a Guadalajara sewage canal.
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He was also claimed to have ordered the murder of another influencer, Juan Luis Lagunas, who insulted fellow cartel boss 'El Mencho' in a viral video.
Valeria is one of a growing number of influencers and journalists murdered in Mexico as violence linked to organised crime escalates.
The livestream video of Valeria's killing was widely circulated online before being taken down. She had over 120,000 followers on TikTok and more than 90,000 on Instagram, where she uploaded beauty and lifestyle content.
LADbible has reached out to the Department of Communication in the Jalisco police for comment.
Dan Seddon