SAN DIEGO — New testimony Wednesday in the double murder trial of a former TikTok influencer details disturbing messages sent in the days leading up to the killings.
Ali Abulaban is on trial accused of killing his wife, 28-year-old Ana Abulaban, and 29-year-old Rayburn Barron inside an East Village apartment back in October of 2021.
In court, the prosecution played audio messages full of name calling, swear words and references to other women.
At one point, Abulaban laughed as they were played.
Later on, he appeared uncomfortable, telling his attorney to turn it off.
Ricardo Escalante, a former homicide detective with San Diego Police, was in charge of analyzing cell phone data as it relates to this case. He testified the examples displayed in court were just a small portion of the disparaging data he found.
"There were dozens and dozens of audio messages with this general vibe of where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing? Vile, disparaging, names constantly," said Escalante.
In addition to audio messages, Escalante said Abulaban's internet search history included disturbing images.
"He's looking up chopped bodies, decapitated head graphics," said Escalante.
Escalante also read text messages and emails exchanged between Abulaban and Ana.
Some were sent following incidents of domestic violence.
Escalante read a portion of one email Abulaban sent Ana.
“You were the only one there for me and I hurt you," the email read. "I can never forgive myself. At this point I believe I am too unstable to be a husband."
In September, one month before the killings, Ana sent Abulaban a message telling him she was done with their marriage.
“I need to move on and get back on my feet. You've dragged me down enough,” her email said.
Prosecutors say on the morning of the shooting, Abulaban returned to the apartment he and Ana once shared and vandalized the unit.
He's also accused of installing an app on their five-year-old daughter's iPad that allowed him to monitor live audio.
While listening to the app later that day, Abulaban overheard his wife and Barron, a man he suspected she had been seeing, talking and laughing.
That's when police say he drove to the complex and opened fire on the victims as they sat on a couch.
A neighbor's Nest camera captured audio of the shooting.
Abulaban's defense doesn't deny he committed the killings, but argued he wasn't thinking rationally due to the collapse of his marriage and the effect it had on his mental health.
The trial will likely last through next week and the defense will present their side.
Abulaban is expected to testify.
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