Venezuelan actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Venezuela 2004. During the Miss Venezuela 2004 pageant, Spear won the national crown and represented Venezuela at Miss Universe 2005 in Thailand. 15 in Miss Universe 2004, which was the first time in 22 years that Venezuela failed to place. Spear went on to place in the Top romero y canela para cabello after the evening gown and swimsuit competitions.
Mónica Spear Mootz was born to Rafael Spear Tudares and Ingeborg Mootz Gotera. Mootz family moved to Orlando, Florida in 2000 after her mother, Ingeborg, retired from her job with an oil company in Venezuela. Her father, Rafael, is a project engineer at Siemens Westinghouse. She gave birth to a daughter later that year. The couple divorced in 2012, but remained friendly, and at the time of their death they were attempting to reconcile. After modeling, Mother Agency Mariela Centeno, Spear became one of the most successful actresses in Venezuela for her main roles in telenovelas. Venezuelan channel Venevisión broadcast La Mujer Perfecta in honor of Spear and a foundation aid for people with Asperger syndrome.
On 6 January 2014, Spear was in her native Venezuela on vacation with her ex-husband and their five-year-old daughter. While inside their car waiting for assistance after the vehicle had broken down on a highway in central Carabobo, Spear and her ex-husband were killed during an attempted robbery and their daughter shot and wounded in the leg. On the initial suggestion that her former husband was Irish, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was investigating the incident. However, local police said he was travelling on a British passport. The international media also highlighted the rising rate of crime in Venezuela. Spear’s daughter has been in the care of her grandparents since her parents’ death.
Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, provided a private jet to fly Spear’s parents from Florida to Venezuela so they could be with their granddaughter. After two years, six of the people that were involved in their murder have received sentences. Three men were each sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. Eva Armas Mejias received a 10-year sentence because she was found to be the accomplice.
Four other people involved received sentences between 24 and 26 years for the murder of Monica Spear and her ex-husband. Tía de Mónica Spear asegura que estaba en proceso de reconciliación con Berry”. Abuela de Mónica Spear no se ha enterado que mataron a la actriz”. Mónica Spear fue asesinada en vía Pto. Mónica Spear: UCF grad, former Miss Venezuela killed by armed robbers in Venezuela”.
Justice Vowed After Former Beauty Queen Monica Spear Slain in Front of Daughter”. Monica Mootz and Thomas Henry Berry murdered”. El trágico viaje de reconciliación de la Miss Venezuela”. Venezuelan Actress Monica Spear Mootz and Ex-Husband Murdered”. Venevisión retransmitirá “La mujer perfecta” en honor a Spear”.