Influencer mum Yaya Gomez, 28, stabbed & strangled to death by ex-boyfriend as neighbours heard screams
AN INFLUENCER has been found dead in her new home after neighbours reported hearing screams in the middle of the night.
Lisney Juliana Gómez, better known online as Yaya Gómez, was allegedly killed just two days after moving into her new residence.
The content creator’s ex-boyfriend, Mario Bastidas came to visit her at a rented accommodation the night before.
According to reports, the neighbours had heard screams and blows coming from the apartment during the night, but apparently had not wanted to intervene.
The 28-year-old rented the flat in the coastal resort of Santa Marta, Colombia.
The main suspect for the murder is Gomez’s ex-boyfriend, named as Mario Bastidas, who was in the room at the time of the incident.
He went on the run but later handed himself into police and admitted what he had done.
The confessed murderer revealed to the authorities that the crime occurred in the middle of an argument.
According to the defence lawyer, Gomez repeatedly hit her ex-boyfriend in the face during a fight which caused an aggressive reaction from the latter.
Bastidas reportedly had ended the relationship because of the revealing content that she sold online.
He told the prosecutors that he strangled the victim to death.
After he fled the scene, Bastidas had sent a message to Gomez’s older sister in which he confessed to the crime and gave her the address of where the body had been left.
After murdering Gomez, he took a motorcycle taxi and hid on a relative’s farm in the tourist town of Minca.
The murderer clarified that he turned himself in because of threats to his family from the deceased’s father, reported Infobae.
“Yaya’s father threatened my family and I decided to turn myself in,” he stated.
Gómez’s body was found by the police at the rented flat later that morning.
She was reportedly found with multiple stab wounds caused by a sharp instrument.
Metropolitan Police commander, Colonel Yasid Montano, told local media that Bastidas now faces charges of murder and femicide.
After surrendering to the authorities, the killer recorded a video, apologising to Gomez’ family and expressing his regret for the murder.
“I feel very sorry for the events and I simply want to ask forgiveness from everyone, from God, from Santa Marta, I have never been a violent person,” he said in the video.
Gomez’s friend, who has not been named, said: “She didn’t deserve that. People write to me to insult me and tell me that she was on the wrong track.
“She was murdered by her ex-partner, a jerk who never loved her or valued her.
“I hope justice is done.”
Gómez, who had a large following on Instagram and TikTok, leaves behind a two-year-old son.
Secretary of Women and Gender Equality of Santa Marta said they are conducting a process for the victim’s son and added: “We were at the scene of the events and now we are where the alleged murderer is giving statements about how the events occurred.
“We also contacted the director of the Icbf [The Colombian Institute of Family Welfare], because the rights of the victim’s son are at stake.”
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.