TikTok

The TikTok Killer is currently streaming on Netflix and tells the shocking case of the murder of Esther Estepa, 42, and how the social media platform helped piece the tragedy together

Netflix’s chilling true crime documentary The TikTok Killer tells the horrifying story of 42-year-old Esther Estepa, whose final days were pieced together through TikTok videos, messages, and digital clues. It’s the kind of nightmare ripped straight from a thriller film – but Netflix ’s chilling true-crime documentary The TikTok Killer tells a story that is horrifyingly real.

The two-part series explores the murder of 42-year-old Esther Estepa – and the suspect at the centre of it, convicted killer-turned-TikTok influencer José Jurado Montilla. What unfolds is a disturbing case of deception, digital footprints and a man who appeared to be hiding in plain sight.

At the heart of the story is Esther – a free spirit with a love of travel. Raised in Seville, she left her hometown in 2013 to “spread her wings,” living a nomadic lifestyle across Spain while remaining incredibly close to her family – especially her mother, Josefa “Pepa” Pérez. They spoke every single day.

READ MORE: ‘I intervened in a London mugging and was praised in parliament but one thing must change’READ MORE: The Mean Girl Murders: Inside the terrifying murder of schoolgirl Skylar Neese by her friends

By 2022, Esther was trying to rebuild her life after leaving an allegedly abusive relationship. For a time, she stayed in women’s shelters across Spain, determined to start again. In August 2023, Esther met Montilla.

According to his account, the pair met at a hostel in Alicante and bonded over their shared nomadic lifestyle. They travelled together along Spain’s east coast, hiking for days and eventually reaching Gandía, near Valencia, around August 20.

He claimed their hiking journey ended when Esther became unwell, suffering from a swollen leg and severe headache, and that he accompanied her to a health centre before she left to meet friends. He insisted that was the last time he saw her.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

On August 23, 2023, Esther’s mother received a string of bizarre WhatsApp messages. The texts claimed Esther was broke, living on the streets in Argentina and planning a new life in Buenos Aires. But Pepa immediately sensed something was wrong.

“She didn’t have any friends there,” she says in the documentary. “It made me doubt that it was her writing it.” When she tried to call, Esther’s phone went straight to voicemail.

Even more chillingly, Esther had left behind her beloved dogs – something her family insist she would never have done voluntarily. Suspicious and frightened, Pepa demanded a voice note; otherwise, she would go to the police. None came.

After that, contact stopped completely. On August 26, Esther was officially reported missing. Then came the phone call that would change everything. Out of the blue, Montilla contacted Esther’s family, claiming he last saw her on August 21 when she left to meet friends for a job in Castellón.

But instead of stepping back, he did something deeply unsettling. He kept calling. Asking about the investigation. And, most bizarrely of all, he began retracing their journey – posting videos about it on TikTok.

To Esther’s family, alarm bells rang. What ultimately began to shift the case was something distinctly modern. Investigators began analysing Esther’s digital footprint, alongside Montilla’s own online activity. TikTok videos, messages and geolocation data allowed police to reconstruct her final movements in remarkable detail.

Crucially, his own posts placed him with Esther – effectively documenting key moments himself. Director Héctor Muniente describes becoming transfixed by the footage, noting Montilla’s ability to switch emotions instantly – from warm and engaging to cold and detached.

“It feels like watching psychopathy unfold in real time,” he suggests. For months, the case appeared to go cold. Then came a grim breakthrough.

Partial human remains – including a skull – were first discovered in a remote area near Gandía, close to Bairén Castle and a canal junction in February 2024. At the time, their identity was unknown.

It wasn’t until June 21, 2024, when further remains were found in the same location, that the full horror became clear. DNA testing later confirmed they belonged to Esther Estepa. Medical experts concluded she had died from blunt force trauma to the head.

As suspicion grew, a far darker picture of Montilla emerged. The man who had presented himself as a reflective travel influencer had, in fact, spent decades behind bars for a string of brutal killings in the 1980s in the Málaga region.

Between 1985 and 1987, he carried out four murders. For these crimes, he was sentenced to 123 years in prison. However, he was released in December 2013 after serving 28 years, following a European Court of Human Rights ruling on Spain’s “Parot Doctrine,” which changed how sentencing reductions were applied.

By the time Esther’s remains were identified, Montilla was already in custody. He had been arrested in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old student in Málaga, who was found shot in the back and neck on a family farm. DNA found on the victim’s backpack ultimately linked back to his family tree.

Prosecutors now allege that evidence recovered from his phone connects him to Esther’s assault and murder, including chilling photos and videos of a woman’s body hidden inside a sleeping bag in a remote field.

Despite this, he denies any involvement. Investigators also relied heavily on digital evidence throughout the case – not just Esther’s data, but Montilla’s own social media activity, which helped place him with her.

As of March 2026, José Jurado Montilla remains behind bars in Spain, awaiting trial for the murders of Esther Estepa and a 21-year-old man in Málaga — allegations he continues to deny.

It is a case study in manipulation — and a chilling warning about trusting online personas. A man who appeared calm, reflective and charismatic on screen, while allegedly committing acts of extreme violence, and someone who built a false, carefully curated online identity.

Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of The TikTok Killer is how ordinary everything appeared on the surface. He wasn’t hiding. He was posting videos. Gaining followers. Telling stories. All the while, investigators allege, concealing a far darker reality.

For Esther’s loved ones, this is more than a documentary. It’s a fight for answers. They became investigators themselves – analysing footage, tracking movements and refusing to let her story disappear.

But questions remain. What really happened in those final hours? And could there be more victims? Because while José Jurado Montilla documented his journey online, Esther Estepa was unknowingly living out her final days.

And for her family, the truth that followed was more devastating than they could ever have imagined.

The TikTok killer is available to stream on Netflix now.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

A TikToker shared his experience staying at a hotel in one of the UK’s most popular cities with tourists, and people were completely flabbergasted by how much it cost

Edinburgh attracts millions of visitors from across the globe annually, so it comes as little shock that even the most modest accommodation in Scotland’s capital can leave a sizeable dent in your wallet. A couple of nights’ stay can easily run into hundreds of pounds, with costs skyrocketing exponentially during major occasions like Hogmanay or the Festival Fringe.

That’s why one TikToker left viewers gobsmacked after discovering a hotel within walking distance of the city’s premier landmarks for a mere £49.50 per night. Spencer Lyon, who has 135,000 followers on TikTok, where he routinely dishes out bargain-hunting tips, booked a room at the Edinburgh House Hotel.

Kicking off the video, Spencer approaches the hotel on Pilrig Street before walking into reception. “Oh my goodness, this is like Fawlty Towers,” he remarks. “Amazing.”

Moving along, Spencer proceeds to check in and is asked for a £100 security deposit. Locating his room, Spencer steps inside to discover not one but two beds – a double alongside a single, reports Edinburgh Live. “I feel like the three little bears for some reason,” he says.

Inspecting the all-important tea and coffee facilities, he comments: “I’m liking how close it is to the pillow so I can boil the kettle with my ear. Loads of options. No shortbread biscuits, that’s a shame.”

Spencer gazes through the window at the view – predominantly overcast skies – before shifting his focus to the telly, remarking: “Teeniest TV in the game, but I’m not paying to sit and watch TV am I?” He then inspects the bathroom, noting the toilet is tucked away round a corner, before bouncing on one of the beds – after removing his shoes, naturally.

He also draws attention to a modest clothes rail mounted on the wall, observing: “There’s no wardrobe in here, it’s just hang it on the top just there.” Wrapping up, he notes: “This was a last little minute endeavour ‘cos I’ve not been booking them on the go. But yeah, this was £49.50.”

Viewers shared mixed opinions in the comments section. One wrote: “That’s better than I expected. The deposit is a little expensive. Could have stayed at easyHotel in centre for probably same price.”

Another commented: “£100 refundable deposit for a £50 hotel is mad to me. Literally just stayed in Edinburgh end of November in a modern hotel that was like £120 a night and was only a £50 refundable deposit. Like, what in that room is costing them £100 to get it fixed or replaced besides the TV and even then they can get it cheap enough in charity shops.”

However, another responded: “I mean.. you get the £100 back and you’d be shocked at the amount of damage that inconsiderate guests can cause. This just gives the owner some peace of mind and you get the money back anyway so I don’t see the issue.”

Others were taken aback by the price. One commented: “Very cheap for Edinburgh. Looks perfectly acceptable.” Another posted: “That’s ridiculously cheap for Edinburgh rates.” Whilst someone else remarked: “Looks absolutely fine, for £50 it’s decent.”

The Edinburgh House Hotel presently holds a rating of 2.5 out of five on Tripadvisor. A quick online search reveals rooms at the establishment begin at a mere £38. The hotel’s description on Tripadvisor states it “offers a budget-friendly setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.” It notes the renowned Royal Mile sits within a 1.3-mile stroll, alongside other prominent attractions in close proximity.

True to its 2.5 rating, guest feedback proves divided. One branded it “run-down and poorly maintained”. “Room was in an awful state of disrepair,” they claimed. “Happy with basic accommodation but this fell well below that standard. Endless list of faults and damages in the room we stayed.”

However, another guest countered: “Clean and tidy place, beds very comfortable had a great night sleep. Bit dated but I would stay again.”

TIKTOK sensation DJ AG once earned an entire year’s salary in just one month after going viral on the app.

DJ AG, whose given name is Ashley Gordon, is best known for his live-streamed DJ sets outside London King’s Cross station which have attracted some of the biggest stars in the world.

He now performs all over the country and has been joined by the likes of Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Will Smith, Skepta, Daniel Bedingfield, Craig David and Idris Elba. Even supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Even former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful dropped by for a surprise visit once.

Now, DJ AG has revealed how much he rakes in every month, but also got real about how much work it takes to be a TikTok star.

“What I’m earning now is circa £4,000 a month if I’m lucky,” he explained during a recent appearance on the In My Opinion podcast.

phwoar, farrier!

Josie Gibson cosies up to ‘world’s hottest farrier’ at Cheltenham

US INVASION

Tiktok comic opens up on Beckhams feud, CBB plans and fat jab blunder

“Prior to that I was monetising on TikTok and doing very well,” he continued, and confirmed there were some months when he earned more than £40,000.

“People don’t know how TikTok works, it’s not just posting content. You can go live, you can do co-host battles with people and that’s a call to action, people will support you with gifting.”

DJ AG also earns money on TikTok by doing ‘forfeit challenges,’ where two content creators go head-to-head and the loser has to undertake an intense dare.

“I was bantering and people were enjoying the content so people were gifting, and I earned a good amount of money,” he said.

“Maybe in one month, I earned more than a year’s salary.”

He explained he is earning less from TikTok now because he’s only doing the outdoor DJ sets and there’s no “call to action” to encourage people to send monetary gifts.

DJ AG said he was happy to talk about his earnings because he wanted to be honest with up-and-coming content creators, not only about the financial gains, but also the huge amount of work that goes in to being a hip hop star.

“People don’t understand the amount of hours I had to do, like 15 hours a day every day,” he said.

“In my opinion, it’s important to be transparent especially for the youth that are coming through so they understand what the opportunities are.”

People who post on TikTok have the opportunity to join the TikTok Creator Fund, which pays content creators for their views.

To join the program TikTokers must be 18 or older, have a minimum of 10,000 followers, a minimum of 100,000 views within 30 days of uploading the video, and run an account that follows TikTok Community Guidelines.

While it is not a grant or ad revenue program, the Creator Fund provides payment to qualified TikTokers based on a “variety of factors” across their content.

“We want all creators to have the opportunity to earn money doing what they love and turn their passion into a livelihood,” the website continues.

With no limit on the number of qualified TikTokers who can join the fund, payments may increase or decrease at different times throughout one’s run on the platform.

Some factors affecting the funds a qualified TikToker may earn include the number of authentic views per video, the amount of engagement, and whether or not the work falls within the Community Guidelines.