Valeria Murillo Targeted by Latrance Battle: Fake ICE Agent Kidnaps Woman Married to Her Ex-Boyfriend in Wild Florida Case of Obsession, Deception, and Escape
On the morning of March 30, 2025, Valeria Murillo kissed her husband goodbye like she did every day. It was a typical Thursday in Central Florida, humid and sunny. Valeria, a 34-year-old office administrator, had worked at the same insurance agency in Kissimmee for six years. She was known for her work ethic, her bright personality, and her fiercely private nature — especially when it came to her past relationships.
That past would come hurtling into the present in the most terrifying way.
Around 10:20 a.m., a woman entered Valeria’s workplace. She wore an official-looking black shirt with bold white letters reading “ICE,” carried what appeared to be a government-issued badge, and flashed a sheriff’s office business card. She spoke with authority and urgency. “We need to talk to Valeria Murillo immediately regarding an immigration matter,” she said, loud enough for the receptionist to hear.
Coworkers, stunned, did not intervene as Valeria was escorted outside. The woman didn’t raise her voice or make threats. She was calm, confident — and lying.
That woman was Latrance Battle, a 52-year-old former cosmetologist from nearby Sanford, Florida. What no one at the time realized was that she was neither a law enforcement official nor authorized to conduct any immigration-related inquiry. In fact, she wasn’t affiliated with the government at all.
She was, however, obsessed with Valeria — because Valeria had something she no longer did: a man they both once loved.
PART II: THE MOTIVE — LOVE, JEALOUSY, AND A TWISTED PAST
Years before, Latrance Battle had dated a man named Carlos Jiménez. Their relationship, by most accounts, had ended badly. Carlos had moved on — and in 2023, married Valeria. Latrance, friends say, “never got over it.”
According to court records and police interviews, Battle had harbored a growing resentment toward Valeria. What began as bitterness curdled into jealousy and then, allegedly, into full-blown obsession. Over the course of several months, Battle is believed to have stalked Valeria online and in person. She created fake social media profiles to monitor her activities, followed her to work, and, at some point, hatched a plan: to remove her.
Prosecutors allege that Battle believed if she could separate Carlos and Valeria, she might rekindle the flame with her ex. But she didn’t want to just confront Valeria. She wanted to control her.
PART III: THE ABDUCTION — DECEPTION IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
After convincing Valeria she was being detained for an immigration issue, Battle led her to a white sedan parked outside. Valeria, who had no reason to believe she was in danger, cooperated — though coworkers later described her as looking “confused and worried.”
Inside the vehicle, things changed quickly. Battle turned off Valeria’s phone under the pretense of “confiscation,” then drove past the ICE field office she’d claimed they were heading toward.
Instead, she took Valeria to an apartment complex in Sanford — nearly 50 miles away. Once there, she allegedly forced her inside and locked the door.
According to Valeria’s eventual police statement, Battle then began ranting about Carlos, their history, and how Valeria had “stolen her life.” When Valeria tried to escape or call out, Battle allegedly slapped the phone from her hand and threatened to have her deported — despite the fact that Valeria is a U.S. citizen.
PART IV: THE ESCAPE — A NEIGHBOR’S BRAVERY AND A MOMENT OF CHANCE
Trapped in the apartment, Valeria began to panic. Her instincts kicked in: stall, stay calm, and look for a chance to run.
That chance came around 2 p.m., when Battle briefly left the front door unlocked while going to the bathroom. Valeria bolted. She ran down the hallway and began pounding on doors.
A neighbor — 68-year-old Glenda Ruiz — opened hers. “She looked terrified,” Ruiz told investigators. “She kept saying, ‘Please help me, she’s not ICE.’”
Ruiz let her in, locked the door, and called 911.
By the time police arrived, Battle had fled the complex. A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert was issued across state lines, and within 12 hours, she was located heading north on I-65 toward Alabama. She was arrested near Montgomery without incident.
PART V: THE AFTERMATH — CHARGES, SHOCK, AND A COMMUNITY RESPONDS
Latrance Battle now faces a series of serious charges:
- Kidnapping
- Impersonating a federal officer
- False imprisonment
- Theft (for seizing Valeria’s phone)
- Stalking
Her bond has been denied as of this writing, and she is currently being held in the Orange County Jail.
Valeria Murillo has since spoken briefly through her lawyer, saying she is “grateful to be alive” and “forever thankful” to her neighbor for intervening.
Carlos Jiménez, in a statement, said the situation was “a nightmare none of us could have imagined.”
PART VI: THE LEGAL FALLOUT — WHAT’S NEXT FOR LATRENCE BATTLE
Prosecutors are building what they call an “ironclad” case. Evidence includes:
- Surveillance footage from the workplace and apartment complex
- Cellphone data showing Battle’s planning
- Witness testimony
- The fake ICE gear and card found in her car
According to Osceola County State Attorney Jenna Albright, “This was not a spur-of-the-moment action. This was premeditated, and it could’ve ended much worse.”
If convicted on all charges, Battle faces up to 30 years in prison.
PART VII: A BIGGER CONVERSATION — WHEN STALKING GOES TOO FAR
Experts are now raising broader questions about stalking, identity theft, and how easily someone can impersonate law enforcement.
“This case highlights a terrifying gap in security,” says criminologist Dr. Lydia Wren. “We rely so heavily on uniforms and badges as signals of authority. But what happens when someone fakes them convincingly? We’ve seen this in scam calls — now it’s happening in person.”
PART VIII: VALERIA’S LIFE AFTER — COURAGE, RECOVERY, AND NEW PROTECTIONS
While Valeria is recovering physically, the psychological wounds may take longer to heal. She’s now under 24/7 protection and is reportedly undergoing trauma counseling. She and Carlos have relocated, at least temporarily, and are considering a civil lawsuit against Battle.
Friends describe Valeria as strong, but shaken. “She’s always been a private person,” one coworker shared. “This has put her in the spotlight in a way she never wanted.”
A GoFundMe campaign set up for her security and recovery costs has raised over $25,000 in less than a week.
CONCLUSION: A SHOCKING CASE OF LOVE TURNED TO MADNESS
The story of Valeria Murillo and Latrance Battle is shocking not just for its brazenness, but because it could have happened to anyone. In a world where personal grievances can turn into calculated crimes, this case is a chilling reminder that obsession — when left unchecked — can lead to devastating consequences.
For Valeria, survival meant bravery and quick thinking. For Latrance Battle, justice is coming.
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