TikTok Killer Busted: How His Own Videos Led Police Straight to Him

In a jarring example of how personal digital footprints can inadvertently serve as a roadmap for justice, the 2024 arrest of Spanish serial killer José Jurado Montilla has become the definitive case study in modern criminal investigation.

Known online as 'Dinamita Montilla,' the 64-year-old convict, who had previously served 28 years for four murders in the 1980s, successfully cultivated a benign social media persona, documenting his nomadic travels across Spain to thousands of unsuspecting followers on TikTok. However, the facade collapsed when Montilla became the prime suspect in the 2023 disappearance of 42-year-old Esther Estepa.

By meticulously geolocating the scenery, timestamps, and background landmarks within his own videos, Spanish authorities successfully circumvented his lack of a fixed address to pinpoint his movements, ultimately leading to his capture at a sports bar near the Spanish-Portuguese border.

Now, the subject of the gripping Netflix documentary series 'The TikTok Killer', which premiered on 6 March 2026, Montilla's case continues to serve as a stark reminder of how the very platforms used to curate a public image can become the most damning evidence against those attempting to hide a violent past.

A Serial Killer on Social Media

Montilla, 64, first gained notoriety in Spain for a series of murders in the 1980s. He was convicted of killing four people, including tourists from the UK and Germany (1987), in the Málaga region and sentenced to a total of 123 years in prison.

However, in 2013, following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that overturned Spain's controversial Parot Doctrine, Montilla was released after serving around 28 years of his sentence.

Following his release, he adopted a seemingly benign online persona, creating a TikTok account under the handle 'Dinamita Montilla' where he chronicled his travels across Spain, shared hiking videos, and even proclaimed his innocence.

The Disappearance of Esther Estepa

In August 2023, Montilla encountered 42‑year‑old Esther Estepa, a woman from Seville travelling through Spain. She vanished shortly after they met while hiking near the coast of Valencia. Esther's family became alarmed when they received unusual messages from her phone indicating she was moving abroad.

Montilla posted videos on TikTok, asking for help finding Esther, retracing their shared hiking routes, and appealing to his followers for information. These posts were ostensibly intended to raise awareness of her disappearance.

Police Tracking Through TikTok

While Montilla used TikTok to document his movements and profess his concern for Estepa, investigators took notice. Authorities in Spain were already probing the disappearance alongside the 2022 murder of a 21‑year‑old man named David, whose suspicious fatal shooting had drawn their attention. DNA evidence from David's belongings linked Montilla to that case and intensified the investigation.

Because Montilla did not have a fixed address and was constantly on the move, police analysed his TikTok videos to determine his location patterns. By piecing together timestamps, scenery, and video clues, investigators narrowed down Montilla's whereabouts. This digital trail eventually led officers to arrest him at a sports bar near the Spain‑Portugal border in May 2024.

The extensive footage he posted created a 'rich archive' that helped authorities build a clearer picture of his movements and behaviour, as described by documentary filmmaker Héctor Muniente, who worked on Netflix's two‑part series The TikTok Killer.

Evidence and Ongoing Proceedings

Following his arrest, police searched Montilla's phone and uncovered additional evidence, including images and location data that reportedly connected him to Estepa's death. In June 2024, Estepa's remains were found near Gandía; medical examiners noted signs of blunt force trauma and possible sexual assault.

Montilla has denied involvement in both Estepa's death and the earlier murder of David, but he remains in custody in Spain awaiting trial on multiple charges.

A Life Hidden in Plain Sight

The Montilla case underscores the complex interplay between social media and modern criminal investigations. What began as a seemingly innocuous travel account became a digital breadcrumb trail that helped law enforcement track a fugitive with a violent past.

His story has drawn global attention through The TikTok Killer, a documentary that premiered on Netflix. The series chronicles not only the disappearance of Esther Estepa and the family's quest for answers, but also how Montilla cultivated an online following while harbouring a dark past.

As the case continues to unfold, investigators and viewers alike are reminded of the power and unpredictability of digital platforms in exposing both truth and deception in the digital age.