Ecuadorian beauty queen shot dead, Instagram post gave away location to killers

An Ecuadorian beauty queen, who was also a social media influencer, was shot dead at a restaurant after an Instagram post of her “octopus ceviche” which he was having for lunch, gave away her location to the two unidentified killers.

Landy Parraga Goyburo, a 23-year-old who participated in the 2022 Miss Ecuador contest, was murdered at the restaurant in Quevedo city on April 28. She was in the city to attend a wedding.

According to a report in the Telegraph newspaper, Goyburo is believed to have had an affair with Leandro Norero, a drug trafficker who died during a prison riot more than a year ago.

Amid speculation in local media, the police are investigating that Norero’s widow might have ordered the murder.

Goyburo’s name also appeared in a corruption enquiry, which linked judicial officials to organised crime, the Telegraph reported.

Just moments before her death, the beauty queen had posted a picture of the meal she was having at the restaurant.

The incident caught on CCTV shows the victim speaking to a man while looking at the two gunmen approaching the restaurant. .

While one stood near the entrance, the second gunman ran towards her and fired his gun, striking both Goyburo and the man she was talking to. The two then flee the scene.

She was reportedly shot three times and died.

The Telegraph newspaper report said that Goyburo’s photos were found by investigators in Norero’s phone, as well evidence of luxurious gifts, including cars, that he gave her.

She came into the spotlight in December 2023 after her name appeared in a chat between Norero and his accountant, Helive Angulo, The New York Post reported.

During Angulo’s trial in court, prosecutors revealed that the slain drug trafficker pleaded to the accountant not to reveal his affair with the beauty queen, saying, “If my wife comes across anything about her, I’m screwed.”