Shivangi Sinha
Ramon Sosa was a successful businessman in Houston, Texas, and owned two gyms. He seemingly enjoyed a happy personal life after marrying Lulu Dorantes in 2009. However, by 2015, their marriage had fallen apart, and they were going through a divorce when Ramon discovered that someone was plotting to kill him. Determined to protect himself and catch the culprit, he carried out an elaborate sting operation with the help of a close friend. Their efforts led to exposing the plot and bringing the would-be killer to justice. CBS’ ’48 Hours: Coached to Kill’ explores this dramatic case in detail.
Ramon Sosa’s Second Wife Started Planning His Killing While They Were Getting a Divorce
Ramon Sosa was born on June 1, 1967, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His passion for boxing began early while sparring with his father and he quickly fell in love with the sport. He saw boxing as his true calling and pursued it wholeheartedly. At the age of five, he moved with his parents and three siblings to Brooklyn, New York, where he continued his training. By 17, he had turned professional and competed in nearly 100 amateur matches. However, after moving to Texas, Ramon realized that a professional boxing career might not be his long-term path and sought other ways to keep his passion alive.
In Texas, Ramon established the nonprofit organization Young Prospects Boxing, which was dedicated to training both amateur and professional boxers. He had previously been married and had three children with his first wife, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2000. In the years that followed, Ramon focused on building his version of the American Dream and creating a successful career for himself. In 2007, he met Maria de Lourdes Dorantes, also known as “Lulu,” at a Latin nightclub. The connection between them was immediate, and they married on March 15, 2009. However, his children disapproved of the marriage and did not attend the wedding and Ramon gradually drifted away from them.
In 2010, Ramon opened Woodlands Boxing and Fitness with Lulu, a gym that symbolized their shared dream of success. However, their relationship soon began to deteriorate. Lulu accused Ramon of being abusive and mistreating her and eventually expressed her wish to end the marriage. Around the same time, Ramon noticed money missing from the gym’s finances. In March 2015, Lulu hired a lawyer to begin divorce proceedings, but the couple continued living under the same roof. One day, Ramon’s friend Mundo overheard Lulu speaking with her daughter about “getting rid” of Ramon. Concerned, Mundo confronted her, and that’s when she openly stated she wanted her husband killed.
Ramon Sosa Faked His Own Death to Bring the Perpetrator to Justice
Lulu allegedly told Mundo that she was exhausted from the alleged abuse and saw having Ramon killed as her only solution. Mundo immediately informed Ramon, and together they went to the police. However, since Lulu had not actually committed a crime yet, there was little law enforcement could do. That’s when Mundo came up with a plan and he told Lulu he could arrange a hitman for her. He purchased two burner phones, gave one to Ramon, and began pretending to plan the crime with her while keeping Ramon informed. On June 9, 2015, police were called to the Sosa home after Lulu’s son from a previous relationship alleged Ramon had hit him and prevented him from taking his car. A court date was scheduled for June 30, 2015, during which a restraining order was issued against Ramon, barring him from the house and the gym he co-owned with Lulu.
Ramon chose not to fight the restraining order and instead focused on the amateur sting operation he was planning with Mundo. When Lulu transferred the money, they took the evidence to the police. On July 20, an undercover officer posing as a hitman met with Lulu, during which they discussed the plan. To strengthen their case, police staged Ramon’s “murder,” using makeup and a shallow grave for photographs to show her as proof. On the night of July 23, Lulu met the undercover agent again and handed over $3,000 in cash, watches, jewelry, and Ramon’s white pickup truck as payment. The next morning, police entered the gym and arrested her on charges of solicitation of murder. In October 2016, she pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree solicitation of murder.
Related
Ramon Sosa is an Advocate For Domestic Violence Today
After the events surrounding the murder-for-hire plot, Ramon Sosa’s first priority was to reconnect with his three children, Cristin, Mitchell, and Mia. He had been estranged from them for years due to marital tensions, but this experience made him realize how precious time and family truly were. In an interview with CBS, he shared that one of the first things he did after Lulu’s arrest was call his children to explain what had happened. Slowly, he began to rebuild those relationships and put effort into being present for them. Today, Ramon is close to all three of his children and takes pride in being a loving grandfather to his grandson, Reece.
Ramon also keeps with him a very personal reminder of his survival, which is the watch Lulu had requested as a token of the crime once the “hit” was carried out. The undercover officer gave Ramon the watch, and he now wears it every day as a symbol of gratitude. It reminds him that he is alive and that he overcame what could have been his death. He turned this experience into a mission. Ramon has since become a prominent motivational speaker, focusing on domestic violence awareness, especially the stigma faced by male victims who often feel unable to speak out. He travels extensively to share his story with audiences, encouraging others to recognize the signs of toxic relationships and to seek help without shame.
His work has been featured by major outlets, including ESPN, Univision, and CBS, and he has appeared on programs such as ‘American Monster’ and ‘Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?’ Life after the incident was not without challenges. Ramon moved out of the house he had shared with Lulu and eventually lost ownership of the gym he had built with her. In 2018, he declared bankruptcy, citing that Lulu had left him with significant debt. Despite these hardships, he refused to let the experience define him solely by loss. In 2019, Ramon released his book, ‘I Walked on My Own Grave,’ which chronicles the entire ordeal and offers a raw, honest account meant to inspire others to reclaim their power after trauma. Today, he continues to live in Houston, Texas, in a smaller apartment, leading a quieter yet purpose-driven life dedicated to advocacy and healing.
