Mexican authorities have accused Ramon Angel Alvarez Ayala, a senior figure in the powerful Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), of ordering the murder of a beauty influencer, Valeria Marquez. The alleged motive stems from Marquez's breakup with Ayala's son, Francisco Alvarez, who is accused of orchestrating the hit.
Ayala, known as 'El R1,' was arrested on Thursday in Jalisco, Mexico, following a special forces operation and car chase that resulted in the death of one of his security team members. Omar Garcia Harfuch, the federal security secretary, stated that Francisco Alvarez had a romantic relationship with Marquez and had threatened her on several occasions before allegedly asking his father to carry out the murder.
Marquez, a 23-year-old TikToker and aesthetician, was live-streaming from her beauty salon, Blossom the Beauty Lounge, in Zapopan, Jalisco, when a gunman on a motorcycle entered the premises in May. Prosecutors claim Ayala ordered the hitman to pose as a delivery driver. Upon Marquez confirming her identity, the gunman shot her three times, once in the chest and twice in the head. The incident was witnessed by viewers of her live stream. Both the son and the hitman remain at large.
In clips preceding her death, Marquez had mentioned receiving threats and suggested her ex-boyfriend should be held responsible for anything that happened to her and her family. She also reflected on recent life changes, stating she had stopped socializing with 'thugs' and was leading a more virtuous life.
Authorities had previously considered cartel leader Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, 'Doble R,' as a suspect, but no evidence linked him to the murder. El Pais reported that Doble R and Marquez may have been associated with the same cartel, with local media suggesting Doble R was enraged by Marquez receiving gifts from online followers.
Ayala is also accused of ordering the murder of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, who was shot and killed during a Day of the Dead festival. The gunman in that incident was killed by the mayor's security detail.
The CJNG was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The cartel is involved in extortion and the trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The US ambassador to Mexico congratulated the Mexican government on Ayala's arrest.
The cartel's founder, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' was reportedly killed earlier this year, leading to a wave of violence across multiple Mexican states. President Claudia Sheinbaum had discussed the operation that led to El Mencho's death with former President Trump.