Naman Shrestha
Daniela Tabares Maya was only 21 years old when her ambitions for the future were shattered in November 2019 after a party with her fellow gym buddies. When the news of her brutal killing broke out, it sent shockwaves across the entire community of Coral Springs, Florida, and Daniela’s loved ones were struck with immense grief. The tragic murder case is covered extensively in the episode titled ‘Fit to Kill’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mean Girl Murders.’ It also explores the swift investigation that led the detective to look into a possible rivalry at her gym, leading to the capture of the perpetrator.
Daniela Tabares Maya’s Night Out With Her Friends Turned Deadly
Daniela Tabares Maya was born on May 8, 1998, in Colombia to Isabela Cristina Tabares. At some point, the mother and daughter relocated to the US, and the former got married to Julio Gaviria, who became Daniela’s stepfather. Consequently, she also gained a stepsister named Luisa Maria Gaviria and a stepbrother named Juan Pablo Gaviria. On the academic front, she was attending Florida International University, where she pursued her Associate’s Degree and was working on earning her Bachelor’s Degree. She was highly passionate and enthusiastic about working out in the gym and had made plenty of friends there.
Belonging to the Training for Warriors Family, Daniela had a bright future ahead of her, with dreams of becoming a successful and independent individual. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. On the fateful night of November 23, 2019, she had gone to a party with her gym friends at World of Beer in Coconut Creek, Florida. After the night ended, she didn’t return home. Instead, around 6 am the following morning, the authorities were called to 1659 Northwest 100th Drive in Coral Springs, where they found the 21-year-old woman dead, halfway out of her Nissan truck. The autopsy revealed that the cause of her death was a single gunshot wound to the head. The detectives secured the perimeter and immediately launched a homicide investigation.
Daniela Tabares Maya Offered a Ride Back Home to Her Killer
As the authorities began the investigation, they questioned Daniela Tabares Maya’s friend, Yvonne Serrano, who called the police. Not only that, it was in her driveway where Daniela’s remains were found. During the 911 call, Yvonne told the operator that she was heading to the gym when she discovered the deceased woman in the car that was parked in her driveway, but claimed that she could not tell if she knew her or not due to the blood. Later, it turned out that Yvonne was a part of the friends’ group with whom Daniela went to World of Beer the previous night.
As per Yvonne’s accounts, she recalled going to the bar to party, but didn’t remember how she returned home. Initially, she told the detectives that she had blacked out and woke up in her bed. However, she changed her story and claimed that she remembered waking up in the passenger seat of Daniela’s car and finding her gym friend dead. According to her, she had planned to take a taxi back home after the party, but told the police that Daniela offered to drop her off. The suspect also admitted to washing her clothes because it was covered in blood. Upon checking the surveillance footage of the community, the investigators learned that Daniela’s Nissan truck pulled into the community around 2 am.
Between 2 am and the time when the police swarmed the area outside her house, Yvonne reportedly shot Daniela to death right in front of her residence at 1659 Northwest 100th Drive in Coral Springs, after which she washed her bloody clothes and deleted surveillance footage from her home security camera. More evidence was found in her driveway as the detectives recovered a 9mm shell casing. Upon digging deeper, the authorities learned that she had a concealed carry permit and possessed three handguns, including the murder weapon — a Sig Sauer P365 pistol, from which the fatal bullet was shot at Daniela. They also found traces of blood on the gun and its holster. Thus, Yvonne Serrano was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Yvonne Serrano is Currently Incarcerated at a Florida Prison Facility
Several weeks later, the prosecutors decided to file a lesser charge of manslaughter with a firearm, but Yvonne Serrano pleaded not guilty to the same. Around June 2024, her trial for the murder of Daniela Tabares Maya commenced. The prosecution presented several pieces of incriminating evidence against the defendant. It was enough to convince the jury as they deliberated for less than three days to reach a verdict. Ultimately, Yvonne was found guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the killing of 21-year-old Daniela Tabares Maya.
A couple of months later, on August 12, 2024, her sentencing hearing took place. Many of the deceased woman’s loved ones, including family, friends, and fellow gym members, arrived at the hearing and even gave emotional statements. One of her friends said, “For nearly five years, we have been grieving.” Daniela’s mother, Isabel, also took the stand and stated, “She’s never had anything to say. If you look at her face, this woman is exactly what I’ve described — insensible, without a heart, without respect for human life.” Although the convict declined to take the stand and speak, her daughter asked the court for leniency. In the end, Yvonne Serrano was sentenced to life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 25 years. As of today, she is serving her sentence at Lowell Correctional Institution Annex in Ocala, Florida.
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