Background: Obdulia Sanchez during a court hearing (KSEE). Inset: Monica Barajas (San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office).
In a tragic turn of events, Obdulia Sanchez, a California resident once notorious for livestreaming the aftermath of a fatal car crash involving her younger sister, has been killed in a drive-by shooting. The incident marks a grim chapter in a life already marked by controversy and legal troubles.
Sanchez first came to public attention in 2017 when, as a teenager, she was involved in a DUI crash that resulted in the death of her 14-year-old sister. At the time, the then-18-year-old was under the influence and livestreaming on Instagram. Even after the crash occurred, she continued to broadcast, capturing and sharing images of her sister’s lifeless body. This led to her conviction and imprisonment for gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI, and child endangerment, though she was later released early. She encountered further legal issues in 2019.
Fast forward to December 2025, Sanchez became the victim of a fatal shooting. According to a statement released by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect named Monica Barajas has been apprehended in connection with the incident. The shooting occurred in Stockton, California, where deputies responded to reports of gunfire, discovering Sanchez and an unidentified male with gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, Sanchez succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, while the male victim survived.
Following a lengthy investigation, authorities executed a search warrant in March at a residence in Stockton, leading to Barajas’s arrest. She faces charges of murder and attempted murder and has been booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. Her arraignment was set for the following Monday.
Reflecting on her past, Sanchez had previously pleaded no contest to charges related to her sister’s death. During her sentencing, she expressed deep remorse, stating, “I feel like such an idiot. Why did God choose me to be the older sister? I can’t even do my job right.” This haunting sentiment now echoes through a life cut tragically short.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Sanchez pleaded no contest to charges in connection with the death of her younger sister. At her sentencing hearing, Sanchez read a prepared statement in which she said, “I feel like such an idiot. Why did God choose me to be the older sister? I can’t even do my job right.”
She further explained why she continued to livestream after crashing her car and broadcast images of her dead sister’s body to thousands of people before authorities arrived. She said in a letter to local CBS affiliate KGPE, “I made that video because I knew I had more than 5,000 followers. It was the only way my sister would get a decent burial. I would never expose my sister like that. I anticipated the public donating money because my family isn’t rich.”
An unnamed 15-year-old girl was also in the car at the time of the crash. She was injured but survived.
