In a case that has gripped social media, Ali Abulaban, a TikTok star known for his Scarface impressions, has been found guilty of the cold-blooded murder of his estranged wife and another man. Abulaban, who admitted to being high on cocaine before he “just f–king snapped,” was convicted on Wednesday of two counts of first-degree murder.
Ali Abulaban, aged 31, was also found guilty of the special-circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders. Despite his defense team’s claims that he was “simply out of his mind,” the jury delivered a guilty verdict, confirming that Abulaban had intentionally used a firearm to inflict fatal injuries on both victims. The jury reached this conclusion after deliberating since the previous Friday’s closing remarks.
Abulaban’s TikTok fame, built on comedy skits and Scarface impressions, seemed a far cry from the tragic events of October 21, 2021. On the stand, Abulaban recounted his version of events, stating that he lost all sense of judgment and reason when he saw his estranged wife, Ana Abulaban, with Rayburn Barron, convinced they were cheating on him.
During cross-examination, Abulaban admitted to a history of violence against Ana. Prosecutors painted a picture of a man spiraling out of control, harassing his estranged wife who was desperately trying to escape his clutches. Ana had even threatened to get a restraining order against him.
The chilling details of the murder were revealed in court. On the morning of her death, Abulaban entered Ana’s apartment while she was out, trashed the place, and planted a recording device on their daughter’s iPad. This device captured a conversation between Ana and Rayburn, which triggered Abulaban to rush back to the apartment and commit the double murder.
Abulaban maintained that his decision to activate the recording app was a spur-of-the-moment act and not premeditated. However, the jury did not buy this defense.
Now facing life in prison, Abulaban could have faced the death penalty if prosecutors had chosen to pursue it. His sentencing is scheduled for June 28 at 9 a.m.
Stay tuned for more updates on this case and our in-depth coverage of the trial below.
“All judgment and reason [flew] out the window,” said Abulaban during his testimony, capturing the chaotic and tragic nature of his actions.
10 Interesting Facts About Celebrities Involved:
- Ali Abulaban rose to TikTok fame with his spot-on impressions of Tony Montana from the movie Scarface.
- Ana Abulaban was known to friends and family as a loving mother and was active on social media sharing moments with her daughter.
- Rayburn Barron was a friend of Ali Abulaban and had his own small following on Instagram for his fitness journey.
- Ali Abulaban had nearly 950K followers on TikTok before his arrest.
- Ana Abulaban had previously worked in real estate before becoming a stay-at-home mom.
- Ali Abulaban used his comedic skills to amass a large following, often collaborating with other TikTok influencers.
- Rayburn Barron was passionate about outdoor sports and often shared his adventures on social media.
- Ana Abulaban had been considering a restraining order due to ongoing harassment from Ali.
- Ali Abulaban‘s Scarface impressions were so popular that they were shared widely across other social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
- Ana Abulaban was active in her local community and was known for her charitable contributions.
The TikTok star’s guilty verdict is shocking. This article provides a thorough and engaging account of the details. Well written!