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2025 has been a dark year for the influencer world all around the globe. From beauty creators to lifestyle influencers, several well-known online personalities have lost their lives due to shocking reasons and died gruesome deaths. Their deaths have not only sparked conversations in the fanbase but also highlighted some of the dark sides of fame and money.
Each case sent shockwaves in the influencer community. The online personalities whose lives were taken away brutally were not mere characters on a screen. They had lives of their own, families who cared for them, and were role models to many.
Have a look at some of the influencers who were murdered in 2025 so far.
10 influencers who were murdered in 2025
These are some of the influencers who were murdered in 2025.
Valeria Márquez
Valeria Márquez, whose real name is Atziri Valeria Márquez López, passed away on February 14, 2025. She was 23 years old at the time. Valeria was a Mexican model, lifestyle influencer, and businesswoman. She also owned a beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco.
She was killed by a gunshot wound while she was live-streaming from her salon. The killer presented himself as a deliveryman and wore a face mask. He shot her in the chest and head before she succumbed to her injuries.
Rodney Finley
Rodney Finley, a.k.a. 'Finny Da Legend,' was brutally murdered by a fellow YouTuber with whom he had been publicly beefing. Finley's wife was also caught in the crossfire and passed away with her husband. Rodney was shot by 41-year-old Manuel Ruiz a.k.a. 'Sin City MannyWise'.
Rodney Finley's mother spoke to WSAZ3 and told them about how the feud has been going on for longer than it should. In her words:
"It was just back and forth, back and forth. He said he talked about the whole family. He said, 'I hope your mom has a black dress, because I'm going to kill you.' Then I heard the shots and then heard some more shots and the phone dropped."
Ruiz claimed that he shot Rodney and his wife out of self-defense but his claim did not hold in court.
Yarely Ashley Hermosillo
Content creator, Yarely Ashley Hermosillo, passed away in August as a consequence of road rage. She was a passenger in a car and was hit after a driver fired a random shot following an argument between two vehicles on eastbound Camelback Road, police said.
Jesus Preciado Dousten was identified as the shooter. He was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
Ariela Meija Polana
Ariela Meija Polana's death is still under investigation. The 33-year-old social media star was shot inside her car while she was driving her Mercedes SUV on the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon.
Police suspect that she was targeted before she was shot. Polana was often associated with rapper and former gang member, Tekashi 6ix9ine. She was also known for his nightlife content, flaunting her luxury items and money for all to see online.
Maria Jose Estupínan Sanchez
22-year-old social media influencer, Maria Jose Estupínan Sanchez, was shot outside her home in Cucuta, Colombia. The killer posed as a deliveryman and shot her at close range. She was taken to the hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Additionally, Maria's murder came right after she won a domestic abuse case against her ex-boyfriend. She received a payout of 30 million COP, which is around $7,000. The investigation is still going on, and Sanchez's ex-boyfriend is considered to be a suspect.
Chrystofer Whyte
Chrystofer Whyte was only 18 years old when he was fatally shot at the beach. According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, he was shot in Long Branch, New Jersey, on June 12.
Before he passed away, Whyte was still active on his social media on the same day. He even posted a video with an inspiring quote, which reads:
"I don't know, man, I've just got this crazy confidence that everything will work out in the end."
Two suspects were arrested in relation to Whyte's murder. One of the suspects is a juvenile, and the other is 18 years old.
Gloria Zamora
Gloria Zamora's death is one of many that have tragically shaken the community this year. She and her date, Hector Garduno, were gunned down by her estranged husband, Tomas Albert Tamayo Lizarraga. He waited for the couple to come out of the sushi restaurant and shot them both in Fontana, South California.
Lizarraga was then shot by an off-duty officer, and he succumbed to his injuries. Both Gloria and Hector also passed away in the hospital due to their gunshot wounds.
Gloria was a fitness influencer with 150,000 followers on Instagram. She was a mother of seven and was in the process of getting a divorce from her husband.
Tais Bruna de Castro
Tais Bruna de Castro was a growing book influencer with 8000 followers. She was brutally stabbed by Claudio Elizeu while she was having lunch at the Beco Fino shopping center in Jundiai, São Paol. Castro worked as a travel agent in the Beco Fino shopping center, and Elizeu worked at the mall as a cleaner.
Elizeu told the police that he stabbed Castro because she refused to accept his romantic approaches. However, it was revealed that Castro and Elizeu were not even close before she was fatally stabbed.
Sana Yousaf
One of the youngest influencers to be murdered on this list. Sana Yousaf was a Pakistani content creator who was killed in her home in Islamabad. The murderer has been identified as Umar Hayat. He broke into her house, shot at her twice, stole her phone, and ran away.
Umar is 22 years old and confessed to the murder of Sana to the police.
What is more shocking is the fact that some people believed that Sana's death was caused by the content she posted online. She had half a million followers on Instagram before her passing, and has now grown to more than a million.
Usama Khilji, the director of Bolo Bhi, said:
"They're asking why she was putting up all this content, and even suggesting the family should take down her Instagram and TikTok accounts because they add to her 'sins.'"
Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay
Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay was found dead inside her car, along with her husband and children. Garibay had almost 50,000 followers on TikTok and was widely known in Mexico. She was a lifestyle influencer, mainly posting about her travels and the luxury items she owned.
Garibay and her family's bodies were found wrapped in plastic in an old-model truck. The truck was parked at a mechanic's shop. According to the authorities, they believed that Esmeralda's death was not directed at her, but at her husband. She and her children were the victims of the crime.
The rising number of influencer murders in 2025 has revealed a chilling reality behind online fame. These tragic cases serve as a reminder that popularity and visibility can sometimes attract danger instead of protection. As investigations continue, the world mourns not only the lives lost but also the growing darkness surrounding digital celebrity culture.
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