In 2013, the quiet community of Aurora, Colorado, was shaken by a horrific crime. Isabella Guzman, an 18-year-old girl, brutally murdered her mother, Yanmi Hoy, stabbing her 79 times. This tragic event, later sensationalized on social media, brought to light the complexities of mental illness and the impact of online culture on real-life tragedies.
Isabella Guzman grew up in Aurora with her mother, Yanmi Hoy, and stepfather, Ryan Hoy. Despite Yanmi’s hard work to support the family, Isabella was often resentful and troubled. Her parents’ divorce and her mother’s remarriage to Ryan only made things worse. Isabella’s behavior became increasingly erratic, and she frequently clashed with her mother.
In the weeks leading up to the murder, the tension in the Guzman household was palpable. After a particularly violent argument where Isabella spit in her mother’s face, Yanmi and Ryan decided to call the police. The officers warned Isabella that she could be kicked out of the house if her behavior didn’t improve.
On the day of the murder, Yanmi went to work, leaving Ryan at home with Isabella. That evening, Yanmi returned home with McDonald’s for Ryan and went upstairs to take a shower. Moments later, Ryan heard strange noises coming from the bathroom.
When he went to investigate, he found the door locked and a pool of blood seeping out from underneath. Despite his efforts to save his wife, Yanmi had been brutally stabbed and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Isabella fled the house but was found the next day in a parking garage and arrested. She was charged with first-degree murder and faced the possibility of the death penalty. During the trial, a psychologist diagnosed Isabella with schizophrenia.
It was revealed that she believed she was saving the world by killing a woman named Cecilia. Because of this, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.
Years after the trial, Isabella’s case resurfaced in a surprising way. Clips of her trial began circulating on TikTok, often paired with the song “Sweet but Psycho” by Ava Max. These videos showed Isabella’s unusual behavior in court, which many found disturbing. Some users saw the trend as harmless, but others were outraged, arguing that it trivialized the brutal crime and glamorized mental illness.
In November 2020, Isabella gave her first interview with CBS4 since being committed, expressing her desire to rejoin society and claiming she was no longer mentally ill after years of treatment. She also revealed that she had been assaulted by a hospital employee and was seeking justice for the abuse.
