Mexican authorities are searching for a 20-year-old Arizona-based content creator who was reported missing after she was apparently abducted at gunpoint in Mexico, an incident that was captured on video and widely circulated online.
Nicole Pardo Molina, a Mexican American social media personality, was allegedly taken on Jan. 20 after she appeared to be intercepted while exiting her truck in a parking lot in Culiacán, a city in the Sinaloa region. Video footage shows another vehicle pulling up beside her before two armed men exit, engage in a brief struggle, and force her into their vehicle before driving away.
Following the incident, the Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office activated the Alba Protocol, a state-run alert system used to locate missing women. Authorities released a missing persons notice describing Molina’s physical characteristics and warning that her safety may be at risk and that she may be the victim of a crime.
Investigators said the abduction took place after the victim’s vehicle was stopped using tire spikes. According to preliminary findings, three armed men in a stolen white vehicle intercepted Molina and forcibly removed her from her SUV.
Officials have not confirmed a motive but acknowledged that the case may be connected to ongoing criminal violence in the region. Authorities said they are investigating information circulating online that suggests the abduction could be linked to cartel-related activity, though no group has been formally identified.
Molina has a significant social media following and is known for posting travel content online. She also operated an online merchandise business. Authorities have not indicated whether her online presence is connected to the case.
Molina was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and had been living in a town outside Culiacán at the time of her disappearance. She frequently traveled between Mexico and Arizona. Her last known social media activity occurred in late December.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have urged anyone with information related to Molina’s whereabouts to come forward.