A prominent Mexican drug cartel figure has been arrested in connection to the death of a 23-year-old influencer who dated his son.
Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala was taken into custody last week for his alleged involvement in the death of beauty Valeria Marquez. The purported gangster known as “El-R-1” is also suspected of being the “mastermind” behind the killing of Mayor Carlos Manzo from the city of Uruapan, according to outlets including Mexico News Daily.
Prosecutors said Marquez was romantically involved with Ayala’s son Francisco “N,” before she was shot dead while live streaming from her beauty salon.
Video showed two unidentified men entering the victim’s salon in May 2025. Authorities said one of the men asked, “Are you Valeria?” before Marquez was shot in her head and chest.
She was first handed a stuffed toy pig, police said. Her killer’s face wasn’t captured on camera.
ABC News reports that Francisco, who remains on the loose, is believe to have asked his dad to have Marquez killed.
“This criminal cell allegedly participated under his orders in coordinating multiple violent acts in the region,” García Harfuch said. “Among them is the tragic feminicide of Valeria Márquez, which occurred in May 2025 in Zapopan, Jalisco, a crime linked to Francisco, the victim’s former partner and Ramón Ángel’s son.”
Marquez had over 100,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined.