Phoenix-born influencer Nicole Pardo Molina, known online as La Nicholette, was reportedly abducted at gunpoint on Jan. 20 in Culiacán, Sinaloa, according to Mexican authorities and local media. She is 20.
Video captured by the cameras on Molina’s distinctive lilac Tesla Cybertruck appears to show multiple armed, masked men confronting her in a shopping plaza parking lot before forcing her into a white vehicle and driving away. The abduction occurred in broad daylight in the Isla Musala area of the city, a zone that has seen heightened criminal activity amid ongoing cartel disputes.
Mexican police opened a missing persons investigation and activated the Alba Protocol, a rapid-response system used in cases involving missing women. As of Jan. 23, authorities have not announced any arrests or provided updates on Molina’s whereabouts.
Molina, a Mexican-American content creator active on OnlyFans, Instagram and TikTok, had built a sizable online following and frequently traveled between Arizona and Sinaloa, where her family has roots. She was widely recognized in Culiacán for her customized Cybertruck and her online merchandise business, which sold clothing and accessories referencing figures associated with Mexican organized crime, including Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Local reporting and statements from officials indicate investigators are examining whether the abduction may be connected to cartel rivalries. Several outlets have noted that the plaza where Molina was seized is located in territory reportedly contested by rival factions, including Los Mayos. Authorities have emphasized that no official link between Molina and any criminal organization has been confirmed.
Mexico’s federal security secretary, Omar García Harfuch, said authorities were coordinating closely with state prosecutors and tracking vehicles believed to be connected to the case. “Estamos trabajando con la Fiscalía… Hay seguimiento ya a los vehículos que participan,” he said, according to coverage of his remarks.
A spokesperson cited by U.S. and Mexican media warned that Molina’s safety “may be at risk” as the investigation continues. Authorities have taken her Cybertruck and other evidence into custody as part of the probe. No arrests, ransom demands or claims of responsibility had been publicly reported as of Jan. 23.
Family members and followers have circulated appeals for information on social media, while the case has sparked broader discussion about the dangers faced by high-profile influencers operating in regions affected by organized crime.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to Molina’s disappearance has been urged to contact the Fiscalía General del Estado de Sinaloa.
