Netflix just dropped a new true crime documentary that is already making viewers stop and think twice about the people they meet online. The TikTok Killer tells the real story of a 42-year-old Spanish woman named Esther Estepa who went missing in 2023 after crossing paths with a friendly travel content creator. What her family discovered while searching for her is more terrifying than any fiction. The two-part docuseries landed on Netflix on March 6, 2026, and it is based entirely on a real case that shocked Spain .
The series follows how Esther’s mother, Josefa Pérez, started getting strange WhatsApp messages from her daughter’s phone days after she disappeared. The messages said Esther was leaving Spain to start a new life in Argentina. But Josefa knew something was terribly wrong. Her daughter would never abandon her two beloved dogs or stop sending voice notes. The investigation led them to José Jurado Montilla, a TikToker known as “Dynamite” Montilla who posted videos of his travels. He was the last person seen with Esther. When the family searched his name online, they got the shock of their lives .
Is The TikTok Killer Based on a True Story? Yes, and the Details Are Real
The answer is yes. The TikTok Killer is based on the true story of Esther Estepa, a woman from Seville, Spain, who loved to travel alone. In August 2023, she was on a trip in Alicante when she met Montilla in a hostel lobby. They decided to hike together. On August 22, they walked 37 kilometers from Denia to Gandía. During the hike, Esther’s leg swelled up and she had a bad headache. Montilla called an ambulance, and she was taken to a hospital. She was discharged at 4:30 the next morning .
That is when the mystery started. Just hours later, her mother received texts saying Esther was moving to Buenos Aires. The family reported her missing on August 26. Almost a year later, in June 2024, hikers found Esther’s remains hidden in a reed bed near Gandía. Her skull had a fracture from a severe blow. The police confirmed it was her .
Who Is José “Dynamite” Montilla? The Travel TikToker With a Killer Past
This is where the story turns truly dark. José Jurado Montilla was not just a random traveler. Before he started making TikTok videos, he was a convicted serial killer. In the 1980s, he murdered four people in the Málaga region of Spain .
His crimes included shooting a man at a farmhouse in 1985, killing the former chauffeur of a famous flamenco singer in 1987, and murdering two tourists – one from Britain and one from Germany – in May 1987. He was sentenced to 123 years in prison. But in 2013, he was released early because of a legal change. The European Court of Human Rights overturned the “Parot Doctrine,” which had kept serious criminals in prison longer. After serving 28 years, Montilla walked free .
Once out, he reinvented himself as a wholesome travel content creator. He posted videos of his trips across Spain and gained thousands of followers who saw him as a friendly, adventurous man. He called himself “Dynamite.” No one watching his videos knew they were looking at a man who had killed before .
How Esther’s Family Solved the Case Themselves
The police initially thought Esther might have just wanted to disappear. But her mother never believed that. When Montilla called Josefa to say he had been with Esther before she vanished, he gave his real name. The family searched for him online and immediately found news articles about his past murders. They went straight to the police with this information .
Montilla had also been posting his every move on TikTok. His videos became a digital trail that helped investigators. He documented his locations, his hikes, and his daily life. This “rich archive” of content became key evidence. Police later found photos and videos on his phone showing a woman’s body in a sleeping bag in a field, placing him with Esther after he claimed they had parted ways .
What Happened to Esther Estepa? The Latest Updates
Montilla was arrested in 2024 for another murder – the killing of a 21-year-old student named David, who was found shot on a farm in Málaga. DNA evidence linked Montilla to that crime. He has since been formally charged with Esther’s murder as well. He is currently in preventive detention in prison, awaiting trial for both homicides. He denies killing Esther .
Prosecutors later added another horrifying detail. New findings in late 2025 suggested that Esther was alive during a sexual assault, which increases the potential penalties for Montilla if he is convicted. The trials do not have set dates yet but are expected to take place later in 2026 .
Should You Watch or Skip The TikTok Killer? A Viewer’s Guide
If you are a fan of true crime documentaries that are grounded in real events and told respectfully, The TikTok Killer is worth watching. The director, Héctor Muniente, focuses on the family’s perspective and uses the actual digital footprint left behind by both Esther and Montilla. You see the real TikTok videos, the real WhatsApp messages, and the real pain of a mother who never gave up .
The docuseries is two episodes long. The first episode, “The Last Message,” covers the disappearance and the family’s initial search. The second episode, “The Criminal Influencer,” dives into Montilla’s past and the discovery of Esther’s body .
Here are a few things to consider before you press play:
- Language: The series is in Spanish. You can watch it with English subtitles or with an English dub .
- Content warning: This is a real story about murder and assault. It deals with heavy topics and includes details from the investigation.
- Tone: The documentary does not glorify the killer. It focuses on the victim, Esther, and her family’s fight for the truth. It also shows how social media, which can be used to create fake friendly personas, can also become a tool for justice .
If you prefer stories that end with a conviction, be aware that Montilla is still awaiting trial. The case is not fully closed. But if you want to understand how a family used the internet to catch a serial killer who was hiding in plain sight, this documentary delivers that story.
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Streaming Details: Where to Watch The TikTok Killer
The TikTok Killer is now streaming globally on Netflix. It premiered on March 6, 2026. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India can all watch it on the platform. Because it is a Netflix original series, it is available worldwide at the same time .
The show runs for approximately 93 minutes total (39 minutes for episode one, 54 minutes for episode two). It is a limited series, so there will not be more episodes. The story is complete in these two parts .
For those who want to know more about the real case, news outlets like TIME and The Mirror have published detailed articles about Esther Estepa and José Jurado Montilla. The documentary uses real footage and interviews with Esther’s family, including her sister Raquel, who speak about the nightmare of losing a loved one to a person who seemed so normal on the surface .
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