Girlfriend of Wanted Suspect in Connection to the Fatal Apple Valley Stabbing Has Been Charged with Aiding Murder Suspect
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA—The girlfriend of the suspect wanted in connection with the stabbing death of 21-year-old Daniel Isaac Aguilar, who was found dead on a sidewalk in Apple Valley in the early morning hours of July 6, 2025, has been charged with aiding an offender in connection with the fatal stabbing.
Lesley Segura Espinoza, 18, of Farmington, is now facing a felony charge of Aiding an Offender (Accomplice After the Fact) after investigators say she took part in obstructing the investigation into Aguilar’s murder. Espinoza is accused of helping the primary suspect, identified in our previous coverage as Aron Isait Medina Rojas, after he fatally stabbed Aguilar near 138th Street and Pennock Avenue in Apple Valley. As we had previously reported, Aguilar’s body was discovered around 3:12 a.m. on July 6, with a severe injury to his chest, which was later determined to be multiple sharp force injuries to his chest, shoulder, and arms, and signs of blunt force trauma to his neck. An autopsy confirmed the death was a homicide.
According to a newly amended criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney’s office on July 31, 2025, investigators reviewed surveillance video from a nearby residence that captured key moments before and after the stabbing. The criminal complaint states that at 2:38 a.m., Aguilar was seen walking alone on the sidewalk. One minute later, headlights from a vehicle appeared, and a heated argument could be heard that reportedly involved two males and a female. A woman was heard yelling, "Grab his phone! Grab his phone!"
Moments later, the video showed Rojas confronting Aguilar on the sidewalk. After a brief verbal exchange, Rojas is seen punching Aguilar in the chest and then in the throat. Aguilar collapsed on the ground and was left unresponsive. Rojas was heard saying, "He's dead. Let's go."
At 2:41 a.m., Espinoza and Rojas returned to Aguilar's body. Espinoza, according to the complaint, illuminated her phone and pointed it toward Aguilar while approaching him on the sidewalk. Afterward, the pair returned to their vehicle, which then drove away from the scene.
A Complex Relationship and a Deadly Night
The investigation revealed that Espinoza and Rojas had picked up Aguilar’s girlfriend, identified in the complaint as Witness 1, after an argument between her and Aguilar. Witness 1 told investigators that Espinoza was angry she had reunited with Aguilar, whom Espinoza disliked due to his past infidelity.
While driving with Witness 1, Espinoza and Rojas allegedly spotted Aguilar walking down the street. They dropped off Witness 1 and told a friend (Witness 2) they were going to go "beat him up." Witness 2 declined to join them. Later that morning, Witness 1 went to the location where Aguilar's phone last pinged and was found by officers searching for the device.
In a police interview, Espinoza initially claimed she remained in the car during the altercation and didn’t speak during the incident. However, investigators determined her statement directly contradicted the surveillance footage showing her standing over Aguilar’s body with her phone illuminated.
Further damaging her credibility, investigators obtained messages sent by Espinoza to a relative immediately after the killing. According to the complaint, Espinoza contacted her cousin, who owns a car wrapping business, at approximately 3:10 a.m.—minutes after Aguilar's death—saying, "I just need a wrap" in reference to Rojas’ vehicle. She also asked him to retrieve her passport and cash, stating she planned to flee to Mexico.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Espinoza is currently facing one count of Aiding an Offender - Accomplice After the Fact, a felony offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A warrant had been issued in the case on July 30, 2025, and was served on August 1, 2025. According to court documents, prosecutors requested that Espinoza’s bail be set at $1 million without conditions and $500,000 with conditions due to her being a flight risk with access to a secure passport and cash to leave the county. The court ultimately set the bail at $750,000 without conditions and $400,000 with conditions. Court records also show that Espinoza has already relinquished her passport to the Dakota County District Court Administration.
Limitless Media News will continue to follow this developing story as additional court proceedings unfold.
21-year-old Daniel Isaac Aguilar
Additional Coverage
Investigation Underway After Man Found Dead in Apple Valley
Homicide Victim Suffered Multiple Stab Wounds; Suspect Identified in Apple Valley Investigation
Victim in Apple Valley Homicide Identified as 21-Year-Old Daniel Aguilar; Family Launches GoFundMe for Funeral Support
Written by: Will Wight
