Who was the husband of the late Débora Estrella, who reported her death – Their love story and divorce

Débora Estrella died in a small plane crash in Nuevo León, Mexico. Her ex-husband, journalist José Luis García, was among the first to report the incident, unaware that she was on board.

The journalist covered the plane crash as part of his regular reporting. At the time, he had no information about the victims’ identities or the personal connection the incident had to his own personal life.

The accident has renewed interest in the relationship they shared for more than fifteen years. It also brought back to public memory his past statements about their divorce. Here’s a look at their story, from deep love to its tragic ending.

The accident

On September 20, 2025, a light aircraft with registration number XB-BGH crashed in the municipality of Garcia, Nuevo León, Mexico. The accident happened near the Pesquería River, within the Ciudad Mitras industrial park, at around 18:50 hours. The plane went down in an area where local residents managed to capture its descent on video.

Authorities confirmed that two people lost their lives: Débora Estrella and the pilot Bryan Leonardo Ballesteros Argueta.

The journalist was 43 years old and had served as main host of "Telediario Matutino" in Monterrey since 2018. She was also part of the programming of Milenio TV and Channel 6.

Hours before the accident, Estrella had shared an image on her Instagram Stories showing the plane from the Aeropuerto Internacional del Norte. Although she didn't provide any details about the purpose of the flight, the image matched the plane that later crashed.

The post José Luis García made, unaware

José Luis García, journalist and Débora Estrella's ex-husband, reported the accident on his social media. Unaware that she was involved, he wrote: "Light aircraft crashes. Nuevo León Civil Protection confirms a couple found dead near the Riveras Interpuerto in the Ciudad Mitras Industrial Park in García. The aircraft was captured on video by neighbors as it fell near the riverbank".

Users on the platform began responding to him within minutes, suggesting that one of the victims might be his ex-wife. One of the comments read, "There’s speculation it was your ex-wife, José Luis, mainly because she posted a photo of a small plane on her Instagram Stories".

Faced with growing backlash and direct finger-pointing, Garcia deleted his post around 23:50 hours that same day. So far, he has not made any further public statements regarding his ex-wife's death.

A reserved and long-lasting relationship

Débora Estrella and José Luis García began their relationship in Monterrey, Mexico, when they both worked in television: she at TV Azteca, he at Televisa. Their bond lasted more than fifteen years, including ten years of marriage.

They shared trips, celebrations, and activities as a couple. Among the memories documented on their social media are various moments capturing their happiness together. In one post celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary, the anchor appeared smiling at Disneyland alongside José Luis.

"Pure love, pure fun, pure complicity. What an incredible adventure this has been!!," she wrote in the caption.

Another sign of the love the journalist felt for her ex-husband was the post she shared for Garcia's 2019 birthday. Alongside a photo of the beaming couple, it read: "If you see him, wish him a happy birthday. A very, very, very happy birthday, José Luis García. You deserve all the good and beautiful things. No one more extraordinary, no one more intense, no one more alive than you. I only wish you more trips around the sun".

In another joint post from December 2018, both appear smiling with the message, "Wishing you a wonderful December 25th spent with your family. Thank you for everything. Blessings from us to you".

They did not have children and chose to keep their personal lives private, even after gaining prominence in the media. The journalist also frequently shared her love for aviation. In one post she wrote: "My admiration and gratitude to to everyone who works in aviation".

The separation

The separation occurred in January 2020. They both announced their divorce on social media with a joint message: "The story we began writing together, ten years ago, has now come to an end".

A year later, José Luis García spoke publicly about the matter for the first and only time during an interview with host Fernando Lozano. There he commented: "I hold on to the best of those 15 years we spent together".

In that interview, he explained: "We were together for 15 years. When we agreed to get a divorce, we discussed it together, reached an agreement, shared a message with everyone who followed both of us, decided to inform them, and agreed not to speak about it publicly beyond that moment. I have respected that, and she has too".

Regarding how they handled the situation, he added: "Both of us keep our word. It was 15 years together, a complicated moment. You marry thinking it’s forever, and suddenly things no longer go in the same direction… we felt we no longer shared the same plans and decided to divorce amicably. In the same car, we got divorced in less than five minutes, each going our own way… there are priorities that are yours… it was the healthiest way, everything very friendly and respectful".

During the same interview, he also addressed the controversy that arose after starting a new relationship a few months after the divorce: "It was a mess," he said, referring to the negative comments he received on social media. The situation made he come to a reflection: "The ease with which we judge other people’s lives, so easy to judge someone".

Despite the speculations that circulated at the time, he denied that his new relationship was the cause of the breakup. He confirmed that the divorce was on peaceful terms and with previous agreements between the two.

The story of Débora Estrella and José Luis García returned to public attention following the accident that took the journalist’s life. Their bond, which lasted over a decade, along with their past posts and his remarks about their separation, forms a timeline defined by discretion and mutual respect.