Michigan athlete lured by Snapchat before being shot, dumped in lake alive

Emilio Valdez, a 20-year-old athlete from Pontiac, Michigan, was murdered on June 7, 2018. He left his mother's home and entered a Pontiac Grand Prix, where he was shot twice and then, still alive, was thrown into Osmun Lake. His sister, Tiffany Valdez, heard the gunshots and saw the car speeding away. The family learned of his death through social media and later identified his body. Emilio, known for his kindness and outgoing nature, had recently begun associating with a new group of friends. Investigators found a trail of blood, tire tracks, and drag marks near the lake, along with a bullet hole in his discarded clothing. The Grand Prix, reported stolen by Alvarez's mother, was found submerged miles away with blood and Emilio's phone inside. After the case was reopened in 2022, investigators reviewed Emilio's Snapchat activity and found a message from Alvarez shortly before his death. Phone records and vehicle evidence helped reconstruct a timeline, leading to the arrest of Alvarez, his mother, and his brother. Alvarez was convicted of second-degree murder in June 2024 and sentenced to 36½ to 80 years in prison. His mother and brother pleaded no contest to reduced charges of lying to investigators. The motive for the killing remains officially unclear, though jealousy has been suggested by the victim's family.