The murder of Colombian influencer María José Estupiñán, which occurred on May 15, 2025, has shocked public opinion due to its similarity to the case of Mexican Valeria Márquez, murdered two days earlier.
Both crimes, perpetrated by men posing as deliverymen, have reignited the debate on gender-based violence and women’s safety in Latin America.
María José Estupiñán: a life cut short
María José Estupiñán Sánchez, 22, was a student of Social Communication at the Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander (UFPS) in Cúcuta, Colombia.
In addition to her studies, she worked as a model and managed a venture selling clothing and footwear through social networks.
On May 15, a man posing as a deliveryman arrived at his residence in the El Bosque housing development.
Upon opening the door to receive a supposed package, María José was attacked at point-blank range; one of the bullets hit her face.
Although she was taken to the hospital, she died due to the severity of her injuries.
The young woman had denounced her ex-partner for domestic violence and had recently obtained a court ruling in her favor, which included a compensation of 30 million Colombian pesos.
Authorities are investigating whether his murder is related to this background.
Valeria Márquez: live crime
On May 13, Valeria Márquez, a 23-year-old Mexican influencer, was murdered during a live broadcast from her beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco.
Two men posing as deliverymen entered the establishment and shot him multiple times.
The attack was witnessed by his followers on TikTok.
Valeria had expressed fears for her safety in the days prior to the attack.
Authorities are investigating the case as a possible femicide and are analyzing whether there are links to organized crime.
Pattern of violence and femicides
Both cases have disturbing similarities: young women, active on social networks, killed by men posing as deliverymen.
These crimes have been catalogued as possible femicides, reflecting an alarming trend in the region.
In Colombia, more than 630 femicides were registered between 2022 and 2023, while in Mexico, more than 50,000 women have been murdered since 2001, according to UN data.
The modus operandi of the crimes against both girls was the alleged delivery men; they would both be given a supposed gift
Reactions and calls for action
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Women’s rights organizations have condemned both murders and demanded urgent measures to protect women.
In Colombia, the organization “Mujer Denuncia y Muévete” criticized the lack of state protection for María José, despite her previous complaints.
These cases have generated outrage on social networks and have reignited the debate on gender violence in Latin America, where many women face constant threats without receiving adequate protection.
The murders of María José Estupiñán and Valeria Márquez highlight a worrying reality: gender-based violence continues to be a latent threat to women in Latin America.
It is imperative that the authorities implement effective measures to prevent these crimes and ensure the safety of all women.
Here are the strong images of the attack on the Colombian woman.
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