At a Glance
- Mexican Facebook creator Isaac “Chakin” Valadez, 44, was found shot to death in his truck on Jan. 10 in Ensenada
- He had posted eerie final videos hours earlier, telling followers he believed the drive “to be the last one”
- More than 164,000 followers watched his road-trip clips; family live-streamed Jan. 14 funeral
- Why it matters: A beloved online storyteller chronicling Mexico’s highways becomes the latest influencer killed amid rising violence
A roadside storyteller who turned package-delivery shifts into viral travelogues for 164,000 Facebook followers was laid to rest Tuesday, four days after gunmen ended the journey that had captivated Mexican motorists.
Isaac Efraín Valadez-better known online as Chakin Valadez-was discovered slumped in his pickup just before 7 a.m. on Jan. 10, according to local outlet El Heraldo de México. Police in Ensenada, Baja California, counted at least seven bullet wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Final posts hint at foreboding
Hours earlier, Valadez had uploaded a string of videos that now read like a farewell. One clip, filmed as wind rattled his windshield on the drive toward Cataviña, carried a caption warning the trip might be his last.
“But we gonna enjoy it like it’s the first of the year,” he wrote in Spanish. “Nothing is as real as the speed that persists when looking or feeling through the windows of the soul.”
The posts, published late on Jan. 9, lit up with tributes once news of the killing spread. Commenters swapped memories of the driver who had ferried parcels-and cameras-across Mexican highways for years, offering viewers a dashboard view of desert sunsets, coastal curves, and roadside taco stands.
Family gathers for streamed farewell
On Jan. 14 relatives convened a wake, mass, and funeral procession, broadcasting the service live to Valadez’s social-media community. Mourners followed a hearse through Ensenada streets while a priest offered final rites.
“No one is eternal in the world,” the officiant told the crowd in Spanish. “Not even having a heart that feels so much, that sighs for life. Life, love, they end with the years. Tell me what you call it. Yes, with time, nothing remains.”
A second speaker echoed the sentiment: “I know he knew that many people loved him. He was a good son, a good husband, a good father, a good brother, a good nephew, a good uncle, a good grandfather. But he didn’t know the magnitude of your love for him.”
Fans flood pages with memories
The comment threads under Valadez’s final clips have become impromptu memorials. One former colleague recalled shared delivery routes: “I was lucky enough to know and work with Chaquin for a while. He was an honest, hardworking man, always with a big smile.”
Another follower wrote, “I can’t and don’t want to believe it. My deepest condolences and strength to his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and all his family. May God have him in his glory.”
A third added, “I am so sorry. May our great friend from Baja California rest in peace. Our friend Chakin Valadez will be greatly missed.”
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have not announced arrests or a suspected motive. News Of Los Angeles reported that police determined at least seven shots were fired.
Key takeaways
- Valadez’s death marks another influencer homicide in Mexico, where at least nine content creators have been killed since 2020
- His last videos show no obvious signs of distress beyond the cryptic caption
- Family chose to keep fans involved by live-streaming the Jan. 14 funeral
- The case remains open as investigators review surveillance footage from the remote roadside where the truck was found
