Catfishing Gone Wrong: Murder Was The Case

Catfishing, or the act of pretending to be another person for personal gain on an online platform such as dating sites or social media, victimizes an average of 20,000 people in the U.S. per year and costs more than $600 million worldwide. Depending on the circumstances, catfishing cases can be criminally prosecuted.

Individuals who’ve been victimized by a catfish know firsthand how horribly situations usually end as they are left to try to make sense of the ordeal and possibly heal a broken heart. Although it is safe to say catfishing never ends well, sometimes it goes really, really, wrong, and people lose their lives.

Manuel Guzman

In 2011, a 17-year-old drug-addicted teenager named Manuel Guzman needed a hustle to supply him with money to feed his habit. He began making fake Facebook profiles to lure victims to local parks where he robbed them of their valuables.

Posing as a young, beautiful woman named Rebecca, Manuel began chatting with a 23-year-old boxer named Eddie Leal. In no time, Leal had fallen for Rebecca; he’d do anything for her.

After building Leal’s trust, Manuel asked him to meet in person. Leal was excited to finally meet Rebecca, the lady who stole his heart. He had no idea he was being catfished.

When Leal arrived at the park, Manuel opened fire on his vehicle. Leal was struck and died instantly. Police quickly caught up to Manuel and charged him with murder. He is now serving life in prison.

Police Officer Catfished Teenager, Killed Victim’s Family

Ten days after Austin Lee Edwards accepted a position as an officer with a Virginia Sherrif’s Department in November 2022, he traveled across the country to Riverside, CA, to the home of a 15-year-old girl he had been catfishing online and killed her mother and grandparents.

Edwards set fire to the home after killing the girl’s family members. He fled the home, although neighbors quickly noticed the fire and called police. Police spotted Edwards driving through town with the teen riding in the passenger seat several hours later. A shootout ensued, in which Edwards shot and killed himself.

The teenager was unharmed. Police do not think she was complicit in the murders.

Man Beat Catfisher Who Tricked Him Into Believing He Was a Girl

We never know who is on the other side of a computer, as catfishing proves. Catfishers should also be forewarned of this information. Some people react violently when they are lied to, deceived, and embarrassed in front of others.

As was the case in 2021 when 18-year-old Ismamen Etute, a football player at Virginia Tech, murdered 40-year-old Jerry Smith who had catfished him on the dating app, tinder.

Smith pretended to be an attractive woman named Angie on the dating site. Etute visited Angie’s home for oral sex in April 2021. All went well for the pair.

A second visit on May 31 turned deadly after Etute discovered Angie was a man. Enraged, Etute repeatedly punched his Tinder date in the face with his fists, ultimately breaking every bone in his face. Etute then fled the home.

Police found Williams’ body the next day. Text messages from his phone led them to Etute. He was charged with second-degree murder although later found not guilty by a jury.

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