On May 15, 2025, Maria Jose Estupinan Sanchez, a 22-year-old social media influencer and student, was fatally shot outside her home in the La Riviera neighbourhood of Cucuta by a man posing as a deliveryman.
According to Noticias Caracol, security footage captured the suspect, dressed in a black cap, jacket, jeans, and backpack, fleeing after shooting Estupinan at close range around 1:00 PM, with her cries for help audible, per Canal TRO.
Estupinan was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries, per Colonel Leonardo Capacho of Cucuta’s Metropolitan Police. Authorities are investigating the murder as a possible femicide, probing her ex-boyfriend as a key suspect due to her recent court win in a domestic abuse case, securing 30 million COP (≈USD 7,000). No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unconfirmed.
Asesinan a otra Influencer, el agresor fingió ser un repartidor.
María José Estupiñan conocida como “la mona” fue asesinada en Cúcuta Colombia el pasado 15 de mayo por la mañana. A través de redes sociales de difundieron imágenes del momento en que el presunto feminicida huye. pic.twitter.com/4Y7cGiUcUQ
— Juan Carlos Robles (@JuanCarlosRR_Tv) May 17, 2025Victim’s Background
A seventh-semester social communication student at the University of Pamplona, Estupinan was a popular model and influencer who shared her life on social media. Her killing, days after Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez’s murder by a similarly disguised assailant, has raised concerns about targeted violence against women, per Instagram posts comparing the cases.
Read: Mexico’s Valeria Marquez Murder Sparks Femicide Probe, Victim-Blaming Debate
The Cucuta community plans a candlelight vigil to honour Estupinan, per Noticias Caracol. Social media posts expressed outrage and linked the crime to her legal victory, though unverified. The case has sparked discussions on femicide, with Colombia reporting 512 such cases in 2024, per UN Women.
🇨🇴 #Colombia | Ella era la #influencer #MaríaJoséEstupiñán, modelo y estudiante de comunicación que fue asesinada en su casa en Cúcuta.
La pista que sería clave para esclarecer crimen de María José Estupiñán en Cúcuta: exnovio, uno de los sospechosos
Supuesto domiciliario que… pic.twitter.com/Ika97iFXGw
— CadenaSé.com (@CadenaSeCom) May 16, 2025Police are analysing footage and witness statements to identify the suspect, per Canal TRO. The investigation, supported by local and federal authorities, aims to clarify whether Estupinan’s domestic abuse case triggered the attack, a claim that needs further evidence. As Cucuta mourns, her death underscores the urgent need to address violence against women.
