Calif. Man Allegedly Googled 'How to Kill Your Ex's Fiancé' Before Murdering Him: Prosecutors

Jesse Alvarez is on trial for first-degree murder

• Jesse Alvarez is accused of murdering Mario Hierro in February 2021

• Hierro, a Catholic school teacher, was engaged to Alvarez's ex-girlfriend, Amy Gembara

• Alvarez, who claims he acted in self-defense, allegedly made several suspicious Google searches

A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s fiancé allegedly Googled “how to kill your ex’s fiance,” according to multiple reports, citing prosecutors.

Jesse Alvarez is charged with the 2021 murder of Mario Fierro, a Catholic school teacher engaged to fellow teacher Amy Gembara, in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego, KGTV, NBC San Diego and CBS8 all reported.

At his trial, prosecutors alleged that Alvarez also did internet searches for “hiring hitmen,” “how to kill someone with a handgun” and “how to delete google search history,” the outlets reported.

Fierro was shot and killed in his home in February 2021, NBC reported. He became engaged to Gembara in 2020, who dated Alvarez on and off from 2015 to 2019. Alvarez was alerted to the engagement after seeing a Facebook post congratulating the two, according to the reports.

“I broke up with [Alvarez] because I knew it was not a safe or healthy relationship, and I didn’t want to be in it anymore,” Gembara testified at Alvarez’s trial, which is ongoing, NBC reported.

The outlets reported that Alvarez claims he acted in self-defense after driving to meet Fierro and subsequently getting into an altercation.

“That day February 1, 2021 was the most traumatic day of my life,” Alvarez told the court, testifying on his own behalf Wednesday, reported CBS. “I almost died. I had a very regretful altercation. And I also was arrested in a very violent fashion.”

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TAlvarez also said in court he has autism, which his attorney says makes it difficult to understand social cues. Alvarez's attorney said he was “heartbroken” upon learning Gembara had gotten engaged, NBC reported.

Alvarez also addressed the Google searches, acknowledging that they were “really weird,” reported NBC. He further testified that he had fantasized about Fierro’s death, but didn’t intend to kill him and turned to Google because he didn’t have anyone to talk to, according to the outlet.

If Alvarez is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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