San Diego,CA – Vanessa Gurrola,a former beauty queen โand social media influencer,was arrested last Thursday,October 9,inโค San Diego,California,and charged with first-degree murderโฃ in connection withโฃ the February 2024 death of her ex-partner. Her โขfirst court hearing is scheduled for October 27.
Gurrola’sโข arrest marks a dramatic turn for the Mexican model, whoseโ life shifted after being publicly linked to “los Chapitos,” the criminal faction led by the sons ofโฃ imprisoned โdrug lord Joaquรญn “El โChapo” Guzmรกn Loera. The connection surfaced in October 2025 with the distribution of a pamphlet โฃinโ Sinaloa, Mexico,โ identifying Gurrola among influencers allegedlyโ close to the cartel.
Authorities allege Gurrola’s involvement in โฃthe homicide of Espinoza, who died from gunshot wounds earlier this year. The San Diego County Districtโฃ Attorney’sโค office confirmed an active arrest warrant had been in โplace for several months prior to her detention at a border crossing between San Diego andโค Tijuana.
Prior to her arrest, Gurrola had been traveling inโฃ Bali, Indonesia, and shared posts on social media referencing a “KINTSUGI” meditation process – embracing โคthe beauty of brokenness. The pamphlet identifying her association with “Los โคChapitos” featured her imageโ alongside other influencers, including camilo Ochoa, knownโ as “El Alucรญn,” who was โlater murdered. the flyer circulated in Culiacรกn, โขsinaloa, showcasing โindividuals perceived as having close ties to โขthe cartel.
