Solved Murders - True Crime Stories - The Tragic Night in Ecuador The Murder of Three Young Friends with Dreams PART1 #11

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

#horrorstories #reddithorrorstories #ScaryStories #creepypasta #horrortales #truecrime #tragicmurder #youthtragedy #darknight #friendshiplost  Part 1 of “The Tragic Night in Ecuador” introduces the heartbreaking story of three young friends whose dreams were brutally cut short. The narrative begins with their hopeful lives and the fateful night that ended in violence, shocking their families and a community left searching for answers.  horrorstories, reddithorrorstories, scarystories, horrorstory, creepypasta, horrortales, truecrime, tragicmurder, youthtragedy, darknight, friendshiplost, shockingcrime, realcrime, investigationbegins, victimsstory, communitygrief, violentact, justicepursuit, crimeuncovered, trueevent

The story of Juliana, Nyelli, and Denise, a night that changed everything. It was the night of April 4, 2023. Three young women, Nilei Tapia, Denise Raina, and Juliana Macias, were getting ready for what seemed like just another night out with friends. They laughed, they fixed their hair, they picked out outfits. They said goodbye to their families, promising to be back by sunrise. Nobody in their households could have imagined that this would be the very last time they'd see those bright smiles. On the surface, it was just three girls going out to enjoy the beach, music, and friendship. But what unfolded that night turned into one of the most shocking tragedies in Ecuador in recent years?

And it all began with something so ordinary, a casual plan, an innocent night out, that twisted into something no one could have predicted. In this retelling, I'm going to walk you through the lives of these three girls, what they dreamed of, who they were, the events that led up to that night, and how their disappearance and deaths shook not only their families but an entire country. It's a heartbreaking story, but one worth telling in full detail, because behind the headlines were three young women full of potential, each with their own struggles and ambitions, who deserved so much more. Who they were Before diving into the tragedy, it's important to know who Juliana, Nyelli, and Denise really were, not just as names in the news, but as real people with laughter, love, and everyday worries. Juliana Macias, the voice of a dreamer Juliana was the kind of girl who stood out in a crowd. Teachers remembered her as the student who always went the extra mile, classmates remembered her as the one with the brightest smile,

and her family knew her as someone who never gave up on her goals. From a very young age, Juliana had shown a gift for music. She wasn't just a girl who sang for fun. She trained her voice, practiced endlessly, and turned every family gathering into a mini-concert. Her relatives said she was determined, charismatic, and incredibly independent. At just 21 years old, she had already moved out of her parents' home and was living with her grandmother, while pursuing her passions. Juliana dreamed of becoming a singer, not just a local one, but a professional who could

represent Ecuador on bigger stages. She even had an artistic name, Syria, the Greek goddess. Under that alias, she had already performed solo at several events, including one for a local political campaign. That night, standing on stage in front of hundreds of people, microphone in hand, she felt a rush that confirmed what she already knew, music was her path. But Juliana wasn't just about singing. She had another big dream, studying psychology.

She believed in helping others heal and wanted to become a respected professional in that field. Her plan was to balance both worlds, academia and music, passion and career. Her life was a mix of rehearsals, classes, and late-night writing sessions where she poured her feelings into lyrics. In the months leading up to that fateful April, she had joined a local group called Los Diabletus. It wasn't just a fun project, it was her stepping stone to bigger things. She wanted to travel, to see the world, and to let her voice carry her far beyond the borders of Ecuador.

Naili Tapia, the dedicated mother and model. Naili's story was different, but equally inspiring. and raised in Santo Domingo, she eventually moved to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, where she lived with her sister and her little daughter. Being a young mother was never easy, but everyone who knew Niali described her as incredibly loving, dedicated, and cheerful. Her daughter, only four years old at the time, was her entire world. Every decision Niali made was with that little girl in mind. But at the same time, she was still a young woman with her own dreams. She had ventured into the world of modeling, enjoying photo shoots, runway practice, and all the excitement that came with it.

Friends said she was always glowing in front of the camera, full of confidence and grace. Naili wasn't afraid of challenges. In fact, she had a big plan for the future, she wanted to move to Spain. She believed she could find better opportunities there, both as a model and as someone building a new life for herself and her daughter. She often talked about packing her bags, starting fresh, and proving that she could make it on her own. She had that mix of sweetness and strength that made her memorable. People gravitated toward her energy. She wasn't just pretty on the outside, she was warm, funny, and deeply caring.

Denise Raina, the kind-hearted future veterinarian. Then there was Denise, the youngest of the three, only 19 years old. Like her friends, she grew up in Santo Domingo, and she was known for her gentle personality. She had this natural way of bringing calm into a room. People often described her as a peacemaker, someone who avoided drama and instead offered support whenever she could. Denise was studying agricultural engineering at a state university. By her third semester, she already had clear goals.

Initially, she had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and opening her own clinic or perhaps working with livestock. But life had its turns, and she had shifted her focus fully onto her studies, determined to graduate. Like many young Ecuadorians, Denise also dreamed of going abroad. Her plan was to move to the United States after finishing her degree, searching for better opportunities and a chance to build something lasting. Her friends described her as pure-hearted.

She couldn't see someone struggling without wanting to help. She had no problem sacrificing her own comfort if it meant someone else could breathe a little easier. She wasn't loud or flashy, she was steady, kind, and reliable. The Last Night Now imagine these three young women, each with such different personalities but tied together by friendship, planning a simple night out. Nothing wild, nothing unusual. Just some fun at the beach.

It was Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The day started like any other. Denise, at home, was visited by someone driving a black car around 9 a.m. This person invited her to go on a short trip to a hotel called Casablanca, located in a nearby province. Denise wasn't entirely convinced. She had a gut feeling, something in her heart told her it might not be the best idea. But she decided to go anyway. Together with this mysterious person, Denise went to meet up with Naili, who had just arrived from Kido.

The two girls spent the afternoon back at Denise's house. They talked, they laughed, and at some point, they made up their minds, they were going to the beach that night with some friends. Later that evening, they passed by to pick up Juliana. She told her grandmother she was meeting a friend and promised she wouldn't be gone too long. That was the last time her grandmother saw her alive. The three girls set off.

Around 11.10 p.m., Naili sent her sister a message with her real-time location. She added a small comment, almost like a nervous joke, I'm sending this to you, just in case. That was the last message she ever sent. At the same time, Denise was chatting with a friend. She confessed something chilling, she felt like something bad was about to happen. She even told her friend that if anything did, to remember that she loved her. Hours later, in the early morning of April 5th, one of her relatives received another text from Denise, saying she was with Nilelli and some friends.

Meanwhile, Juliana updated her WhatsApp status. It showed the three of them in a car, singing along to music. On the outside, it looked like a carefree night. But beneath the surface, something darker was unfolding. The disappearance. When morning came and none of the girls returned home, their families started to worry. It wasn't like them to disappear without notice. Calls went unanswered, messages showed only a single checkmark.

Panic started to creep in. On April 5th, Juliana's aunt, Paulina Rueida, who was not only a close relative but also an activist for women's rights, went straight to the authorities to file a missing person report. She refused to waste time. She knew something was wrong. But hope still lingered in the hearts of the families. They thought maybe the girls had lost track of time, maybe their phones had died, maybe they were just resting somewhere. nobody wanted to believe the worst the discovery the following day april 6th everything changed a fisherman out by the river with a group of others noticed his dog sniffing aggressively at a patch of soil at first he thought nothing of it dogs dig all the time but then the smell hit him it was foul heavy unmistakable he called the authorities When the police arrived and began digging, they were horrified. What they found wasn't one body, but three. Buried together, bound, with signs of torture and deep wounds from sharp weapons, likely

machetes. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare. The bodies were taken to forensic specialists, who confirmed what the families had feared but prayed against. The victims were Juliana, Nyelli, and Denise. The news shattered their families. Parents collapsed, siblings screamed in disbelief, children cried without fully understanding what was happening.

The hope that maybe, just maybe, the girls would walk back through the door was gone. The aftermath. The case immediately caught national attention. How could three young women disappear in a single night and end up brutal? murdered. Who was responsible? Why them? Protests broke out. People marched demanding justice, demanding safety for women, demanding answers. For many Ecuadorians, this case became a symbol of the larger issue of violence against women in the country. The families of Giuliana, Nile, and Denise were left not only with grief but with endless questions. Who invited them that night?

Who drove that black car? Who silenced three promising lives so cruelly? Reflection When you look at the story of these three friends, it's impossible not to feel the weight of what was lost. Juliana could have been a famous singer or a brilliant psychologist. Nile could have built a new life in Spain, raising her daughter with pride. Denise could have finished her degree,

moved abroad and built a career helping animals. But instead, their lives were cut short in one of the most senseless acts imaginable. Life in Santo Domingo and Kido, the world they lived in. To really understand Juliana, Nile, and Denise, you have to picture the world around them. Santo Domingo, their hometown, isn't some huge city like Kido or Gueikil, it's more of a mid-sized urban area surrounded by green landscapes, farms, and a mix of rural and city life. People there know each other. Everyone's got cousins, uncles, and neighbors who are practically family.

Growing up in Santo Domingo meant weekends at local events, hanging out at plazas, and celebrating community festivals. For teenagers, the dream was always bigger, getting out, chasing new opportunities in Quito or even outside the country. Keto, on the other hand, is a busy capital nestled between mountains, where life moves fast. For Niali, moving there was like stepping into a whole new world. She had to juggle motherhood, responsibilities, and chasing modeling gigs in a city where competition was fierce.

Still, she managed. What's important here is that these weren't reckless girls. They weren't living double lives or seeking trouble. They were like so many young women, working, studying, dreaming, and occasionally going out to relax. That's what makes what happened so gut-wrenching, the contrast between their innocence and the brutality they faced. That evening in more detail.

Let's rewind to April 4th one more time, but slower, filling in the gaps with what's been pieced together. Denise started her day like any other. Her mom later said she was quiet but seemed distracted. Then that black car pulled up. Was it someone she trusted? A casual acquaintance. Police reports later suggested it was a friend, but the truth is still blurry.

Nyelli, freshly back from Kito, was excited to see her friends. She had left her little girl with family, planning to just relax for a night. It was rare for her to go out, but she didn't want to miss the chance. to catch up. Juliana, meanwhile, was in good spirits. Her grandmother remembered her leaving the house with a light jacket, saying she'd only be gone for a short while. She wasn't the type to vanish.

When the three finally met up, there must have been that buzz of excitement. You know when you're with close friends, you feel safe, like nothing could go wrong. They probably shared laughs in that car, music blasting, windows down. That explains the WhatsApp status Juliana posted, three friends singing in the back seat, just a normal night captured in seconds. But then come the small details that make your stomach twist. Naili sending her live location just in case.

Denise telling her friend she felt something bad was coming. Those aren't things you usually do unless your instincts are screaming at you. And instincts are rarely wrong. The hours they went silent. From around midnight to dawn, communication went dark. Families tried calling. Messages piled up with no reply. And yet, nobody jumped to panic immediately.

Maybe the girls had gone camping by the beach. Maybe they fell asleep at a friend's house. Maybe their phones were off. But by 8 a.m. on April 5th, the silence became deafening. Parents started pacing. Siblings exchanged worried looks. By 10 a.m., relatives were already calling around, asking everyone in their contact list if they'd seen or heard from the girls.

Juliana's aunt, Paulina, wasn't one to sit still. She headed to the police station almost immediately. She'd worked in activism long enough to know the dangers women face. She insisted the authorities take her seriously. But even as reports were filed, the girls' families clung to hope. There was this unspoken belief, they'll show up. They always had before. The fisherman's discovery, a scene of horror.

Now picture this, it's April 6th morning. A group of fishermen are by a river, a quiet stretch of land surrounded by trees and thick air. One man's dog starts sniffing and pawing at the soil like crazy. At first, the fishermen think maybe there's a dead animal buried there. But then, the smell, strong, heavy, sickly sweet and rotten, hits them. One of the men, horrified, calls the emergency line. Police arrive with shovels, gloves, and masks. They start digging.

What they uncover is something no one was prepared for. A hand. Then another. Then ropes. It isn't one body. It's three. All bound, all bearing marks of violence, cuts, bruises, injuries from sharp weapons. The girls had been tortured, then killed, then buried hastily in shallow ground. Even seasoned officers were shaken. One later admitted that the scene would haunt him forever. The bodies were quickly transported to forensic specialists. DNA, dental records, and personal belongings confirmed what the families dreaded. These were Juliana, Nilelli, and Denise. Grief like no other. When the families got the news,

their world collapsed. Juliana's grandmother fainted when police arrived at her door. Naili's little daughter kept asking why her mom wasn't coming back. Denise's relatives screamed and clung to each other, unable to process how their gentle girl had been taken in such a way. Funerals in Santo Domingo turned into rivers of people. Not just relatives, but neighbors, classmates, teachers, activists, everyone came. People left flowers, candles, and handwritten notes. Strangers wept as if, if they'd lost their own daughters. Because in a way, the girls became everyone's daughters. Ecuador reacts.

The murders shook Ecuador like an earthquake. On TV, anchors struggled to keep their voices steady as they reported the details. On social media, hashtags exploded demanding justice. In the streets, protests formed. Arches were organized not just in Santo Domingo, but in Quito, Guayaquil, and other cities. Women carried signs reading N. I. Unaminos, not one less, a cry against femicide that echoed across Latin America. People weren't just angry about the brutality of the crime, they were furious about the larger issue it represented, how unsafe women often feel in their own country. Every mother, sister, and daughter in Ecuador saw themselves in Juliana, Niali, and Denise.

The investigation, questions without answers. Who killed them? Why? That's the question everyone kept asking. The black car. The mysterious friends, they were supposed to meet. The Erie last messages. It all pointed to something premeditated. not random.

Authorities launched investigations, but progress was slow. Rumors swirled, some said it was linked to organized crime, others whispered about jealousy or personal vendettas. But the official answers were vague. The lack of clarity fueled frustration. Families wanted names, arrests, trials. Instead, what they got were promises of ongoing investigations. Cultural context, why this hit so hard.

Ecuador, like many countries, has been battling a rising wave of violence, much of it tied to organized crime. But femicides, murders of women specifically because they are women, are a particularly painful wound. For years, activists had been warning about this crisis. And then, here came the case of three young women at once. Three dreams cut short in one night It wasn't just a crime It was a symbol of everything society needed to fix Remembering the girls beyond the headlines

It's easy for victims to become statistics Names on a screen, faces on posters But these three were more than that Juliana wasn't just a student and singer She was a granddaughter who left sticky notes on the fridge for her grandma, reminding her to take her medicine. She was a girl who practiced scales until her voice cracked but still smiled through the frustration. Naili wasn't just a model and mother. She was the woman who braided her little daughter's hair every morning before school, whispering promises of a bright future.

She was the one who laughed so loudly her friends said you could hear her a block away. Denise wasn't just a college student. She was the girl who carried stray puppies home, even when her mom scolded her for it. She was the one who listened more than she spoke, who always made people feel safe around her. These details matter. Because remembering them as people, not just victims, is the only way to honor them. A ripple effect. In the months that followed, something shifted.

People in Ecuador started talking more openly about safety, about the reality women face. Schools held discussions. Activists pushed harder. Families became more protective of their daughters. Was it enough? Probably not. But their story became a catalyst, forcing people to confront uncomfortable truths. A night that should have been ordinary.

Think about it. April 4th, 2023, could have been just another night. Three girls could have returned home, tired but smiling, carrying memories of music and laughter. Instead, it became the night that ended their futures. That's what makes this story so haunting. It reminds us how fragile life is, how quickly normal can turn into nightmare. The What Ifs Every tragedy leaves

behind a trail of what ifs. What if Denise had listened to her gut and stayed home? What if Naili had decided to spend the evening with her daughter instead? What if Juliana's grandmother had begged her not to go? Of course, no one can live in what ifs. But the questions never leave the families. They replay the last moments endlessly, wishing they could rewrite history. The Legacy of Three Young Women

Today, when people in Ecuador hear the names Juliana, Niali, and Denise, they don't just think of a crime. They think of potential, of light, of voices silenced too soon. Murals have been painted in their honor. Songs have been dedicated to them. Their case continues to be brought up in conversations about justice and safety. Because in the end, their story became larger than their lives. It became a reminder of why society must change. Final thoughts.

As I write this, I keep coming back to one image, three friends in a car, singing along to music, carefree for just a moment. That snapshot of joy is how I want to remember them, not the horror that followed, but the life they carried within them. They deserve so much more. And telling their story, in detail, in full, is one small way to make sure they are never forgotten. To be continued.