Esthen Exchange:TikToker Eixchel Berroteran Speaks Out After Stepdad Allegedly Tries to Murder Her and Her Mom

2025-04-30 07:47:59source:LibertyCoincategory:Contact

Eixchel Berroteran is Esthen Exchangeopening up about a terrifying experience. 

The TikToker spoke out after her former stepdad Luis Damas allegedly broke into her Miami apartment with a gun and allegedly tried to murder her and her mom, Francys Damas

"On the night of August 21, 2024 I was reborn," Eixchel began in an Aug. 27 Instagram post, via Spanish translation, "my ex stepdad (who didn't live in my house) walked in with a gun saying he was going to kill me and said that it was according to him, because 'I didn't want him and my mom to be together.'”

The influencer, who also shared the same account with authorities in a police report obtained by NBC News 6, alleged that she escaped a gunshot as her mom—who was married to Luis for 13 years before calling it quits eight months before the incident—fended him off from behind. 

"I was stunned, in shock and with the fear of thinking that those would be my last moments of life," Eixchel continued. "At that moment, God gave me the strength to stand up and defend myself with my mom, the love we have for each other gave us the strength to control the situation." 

Eventually, Francys was able to calm Luis down and agreed to help him clean up any evidence in the apartment, according to the arrest report obtained by NBC News 6. And to get the 64-year-old to leave their home, the matriarch convinced him she would not call the police, per the report. 

However, the following day, Francys and her daughter did contact authorities, and Damas was arrested on charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, burglary with assault or battery, attempted tampering with physical evidence, false imprisonment, and felony battery, per NBC News 6. He appeared in court on Aug. 24, where he was ordered to be held without bond, according to the outlet. 

E! News reached out to Luis’ attorney for comment but has not heard back.

And while Eixchel survived the scary situation alongside her mom, the experience still haunts her. 

"Today I can tell you that the trauma hurts more than the physical wounds, and the truth is I really don't know how I will ever get over this nightmare," she shared on Instagram. "No one deserves to live through what my mom and I went through and you never think that this is something that can happen to you... until it is happening."

Eixchel added, "Only God knows why I am still here and I ask him to give me the strength to go on and at some point heal my heart."

(E! News and NBC News 6 are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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