Influencer is murdered after leaving player's wake - News Room USA

The farewell to Ecuadorian player Mario Pineida and his wife, Guisella Fernández, who died on December 17, was marked by yet another tragedy. The influencer Karen Grunauer Franco39 years old, was murdered shortly after leaving the couple’s wake, held on December 19, in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Karen, who was a close friend of Guisella, was a passenger in a car when she was surprised by armed men who passed by in another vehicle and shot several times. According to the newspaper Metro Ecuadorthe attack took place in the parish of La Aurorain the canton of Daule, the same region where Pineida was buried.

When the police arrived at the scene, they found the influencer lying on Avenida 18 de Agosto, already lifeless. She had multiple gunshot wounds. The driver of the car was also hit, but managed to drive to a police station to ask for help. He was later taken to a hospital by family members and remains in stable condition.

Investigation

Ecuadorian authorities are investigating whether Karen’s murder is linked to the violent death of Mario Pineida and his wife. Pineida, 33, was executed by hired killers inside a butcher’s shop, while Guisella was found dead in the street next door. The police are working on the hypothesis that both crimes may be connected.

The death of Mario Pineida

The left-back was the fourth football player murdered in Ecuador in 2025a year marked by an increase in violence involving athletes. In addition to him, Jonathan González (31 years old), from 22 de Julio, and Maicol Valencia (21 years old) and Leandro Yépez (33 years old), both from Exapromo Costa, a second division team, were also killed.

Pineida played 14 times for Barcelona de Guayaquil in 2025. With an established career in Ecuadorian football, he also had a spell in Brazil, where he defended the Fluminense in 2022 and played 24 matches for the Rio club.