23-Year-Old Exotic Dancer Charged with Beheading 55-Year-Old Boyfriend

Alyssa Marie Lira allegedly decapitated Enrique Gonzalez-Carbajal after just 2 months of dating and fled to Mexico before being captured.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:55am

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A 23-year-old exotic dancer from Anaheim, California has been charged with the murder of her 55-year-old boyfriend, Enrique Gonzalez-Carbajal. Prosecutors allege that Alyssa Marie Lira decapitated Gonzalez-Carbajal with a knife after just 2 months of dating, left his headless body in her home, and then fled to Mexico. Lira was tracked down and arrested 5 months later, and is now facing charges of felony murder and felony enhancement of personally using a weapon.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tragic and extreme violence that can sometimes occur in intimate partner relationships, even after a short period of time. It also underscores the challenges law enforcement can face in tracking down suspects who flee across international borders. The brutal nature of the crime has also deeply impacted the victim's family and the local community.

The details

According to prosecutors, Lira allegedly used a knife to decapitate Gonzalez-Carbajal inside her Anaheim home on August 25, 2025. She then left his headless body there and fled to Mexico, sparking a multi-agency investigation involving local police, the FBI, and Mexican authorities. Lira was eventually tracked down and arrested on January 22, 2026, after spending 5 months on the run.

  • On August 25, 2025, police received a call about Gonzalez-Carbajal's body being found in Lira's home.
  • Lira allegedly fled to Mexico immediately after the incident.
  • Lira was arrested on January 22, 2026, after 5 months on the run.

The players

Alyssa Marie Lira

A 23-year-old exotic dancer from Anaheim, California who has been charged with the murder of her 55-year-old boyfriend.

Enrique Gonzalez-Carbajal

The 55-year-old boyfriend of Alyssa Marie Lira who was allegedly decapitated by her after 2 months of dating.

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What they’re saying

“It's just a testament to our never-ending pursuit of justice and bringing her back and making sure she's held accountable. This was somebody who was in a dating relationship [with Gonzalez-Carbajal] … who you would assume had some kind of feelings for him, and then for her to be able to engage in that level of just heinous violence, it's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking for the victim, it's heartbreaking for the victim's family.”

— Kimberly Edds, Director of Public Affairs, Orange County District Attorney's Office

“Orange County law enforcement will continue to go the very ends of the earth to carry out our mission and hold criminals accountable for the heinous acts they commit. This investigation and prosecution are a testament to the tenacity and the dedication of the Anaheim Police Department, of the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and of our federal and international partners to identify a cold-blooded killer, track her down in a foreign country, and bring her back to the United States to face the full weight of the law.”

— Todd Spitzer, Orange County District Attorney

What’s next

Lira is scheduled to be arraigned on February 13th and is currently being held in the Orange County Jail without bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the need for greater awareness and support around domestic violence, even in short-term relationships. It also highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down suspects who flee across international borders, and the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies to bring such criminals to justice.