The TikTok Killer: The Case of José Jurado Montilla and Esther Estepa

A fresh Netflix docuseries, The TikTok Killer, details the tragic disappearance and murder of Esther Estepa, a 42-year-old Spanish woman who vanished while on a hiking trip in August 2023. The case highlights the dangers of trusting strangers met online and the chilling reality of a serial killer operating in Spain.

Esther Estepa’s Disappearance

Esther Estepa, from Seville, enjoyed solo travel and spontaneous adventures. While staying at a hostel in Alicante, she connected with José Jurado Montilla, a local content creator known as “Dynamite Montilla” on social media [Time]. The pair embarked on a 37-kilometer hike from Dénia to Gandía on August 22, 2023.

During the hike, Estepa began experiencing headaches and leg pain. Montilla called emergency services, and she was transported to a hospital. She was discharged the following day, August 23, 2023 [Time].

Suspicious Messages and a Missing Person Report

Shortly after her hospital discharge, Estepa’s mother, Josefa “Pepa” Pérez, received unusual WhatsApp messages from her daughter. The messages indicated Estepa was “broke” and planned to start a “new life in Buenos Aires, Argentina” [Time]. This was out of character for Estepa, who had a strong bond with her family and two dogs [Time]. Her family suspected the messages were not written by her.

On August 26, 2023, Estepa was reported missing after days of no contact [Time]. Initially, police considered the possibility of a voluntary disappearance.

The Investigation and José Jurado Montilla’s Past

Estepa’s family launched their own investigation, and discovered a disturbing history connected to José Jurado Montilla. Research revealed that Montilla had been convicted of murdering four people in the 1980s and sentenced to 123 years in prison [MovieDelic]. He was released after approximately 28 years [MovieDelic]. Notably, Montilla’s previous victims included travelers [MovieDelic].

Montilla had contacted Estepa’s family, claiming he last saw her when he took her to a health center [MovieDelic]. Though, this did not alleviate the family’s suspicions.

José Jurado Montilla: A Serial Killer

José Jurado Montilla, 64, is a convicted serial killer from Spain [People.com]. He is currently awaiting trial for the killings of two additional people, including Esther Estepa [People.com]. He presented himself as an unassuming older man, often photographed in casual attire [A&E].

The Netflix Docuseries

The two-part Netflix docuseries, The TikTok Killer, retraces the Estepa and Pérez family’s search for Esther, utilizing her digital footprint – videos, social media posts, messages, and geotags – to reconstruct the events leading up to her disappearance [Time]. The series is directed by Héctor Muniente and produced by iZen Documentaries [Time].