Serialously with Annie Elise

Episode 372: Millionaire Husband Tries To Kill His Wife Multiple Times | The Case of Sergio and Tatiana Pino

Date: March 2, 2026
Host: Annie Elise
Produced by: Audioboom Studios

Overview of the Episode

In this riveting episode, Annie Elise delves into the jaw-dropping, deeply layered true crime case of Sergio and Tatiana Pino—a 30-year marriage that devolved from the high society glitz of Miami into a plot involving poison, hitmen, and a desperate fight for survival and inheritance. Annie examines not just the headline twists—a millionaire hiring multiple failed hitmen to have his wife killed—but also the emotional toll, the overlooked warning signs, and the web of relationships that made this case so confounding. The tone is classic Annie: conversational, detail-obsessed, and empathetic toward the victims, all while shaking her head at the mind-boggling idiocy of the would-be criminals.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

1. The Rise of Sergio Pino [03:10–10:00]

• Background: Sergio was born in Cuba in 1956, emigrated to the US at 12, worked menial jobs, and convinced his father to lend him $6,000 at age 20 to start a plumbing supply business (equivalent to $30,000 today) (“That’s a big chunk of change, right?” [03:49]).
• Signature Ambition: Quickly found success, expanded into real estate, became active in business associations, gave to charity, gained an appointment on the Florida Department of Transportation.

  “It goes to show how trusted he was…he kind of just became like this fixture in the community.” [05:43]

2. Tatiana’s Humble Beginnings & the Marriage [05:50–14:30]

• Tatiana’s Story: 12 years younger than Sergio, a “straight-laced, good kid,” working at her family’s grocery store. Met Sergio at 18, he wooed her with luxury—the “real Cinderella story,” Annie notes.
• Family’s Worry: Tatiana’s parents wary due to the age gap and Sergio’s previous divorce.
• Long Courtship: Dated for 5 years before marrying; “Not anything that is, you know, insanely alarming…for me, I don’t know…” [12:20]
• Luxurious Life: Gifted a white Lexus before the wedding, small civil service, then big religious ceremony, moved into a “huge mansion…probably exactly what you would expect when you picture marrying a millionaire” [13:57].
• Children: Two daughters, close family image on the outside.

3. Cracks in the Facade: The Affair and Red Flags [14:45–20:50]

• Affair with Nancy Pastor (2017): Began affair with his sales director, obvious to everyone, including Tatiana. She tried to move past the infidelity for the sake of the family, tried marriage counseling, but trust was shattered.
• Tatiana’s Sister’s Role: Aurora (her sister) cautions Tatiana, encourages vigilance.

4. Poisoning at Friendsgiving & Mysterious Illness [20:50–30:15]

• The Friendsgiving Incident (2019): At an all-women’s Friendsgiving, 12 people (including Tatiana) violently ill after eating Tatiana’s brussels sprouts dish—yet food toxicity tests came back negative.

  “It was almost like this food had been deliberately poisoned. Not in a food poisoning type of way, but actual poison.” [23:50]

• Annie’s Personal Sidebar: “I get food poisoning on average probably at least once a year...But it takes a while to set in, usually around 12 hours...That’s not how it works. But this is kind of how Thanksgiving played out.” [24:40]
• Aftermath: Tatiana fell into years of unexplained illnesses—breathing issues, fainting, foaming at the mouth, multiple hospital visits, pacemaker implantation.

  “...over the course of three years, it was one thing after another...” [27:35]

5. The Fentanyl Bombshell & Realization [30:16–36:00]

• Diagnosis at Johns Hopkins: (2022) Finally, after years, tests reveal fentanyl in Tatiana’s system. Medications at her home also show fentanyl contamination.
• Police Involvement: Realization that only someone with access to her home/meds could be responsible; initial disbelief that Sergio could be involved, but suspicion grows.
• Tatiana Moves Out: Following doctors' advice, switches up her routine, files for divorce.

6. The Divorce Trigger: Financial Motive and Escalation [36:01–40:00]

• Sergio’s Motive Intensifies: Offers her $20 million to end the marriage; with his net worth estimated between $153–$360 million, Tatiana holds out for more.
• Murder for Hire Plot: Sergio enlists his yacht chef, Baron Bennett, to poison Tatiana with his team (including Michael Dolfo, Jaron Howard, and Edner Etina) using cyanide, arsenic, and fentanyl—plot fizzles due to incompetence.

7. Escalation: Attacks on Tatiana’s Sister, Aurora [40:01–44:00]

• Aurora’s Cars Set Ablaze: [July–August 2022] Surveillance shows Michael’s Silverado at the scene, cell phone records trace the team’s presence—barefaced incompetence.
• Theory: Annie speculates Aurora’s loyalty to Tatiana made her a target ("He just wanted her out of his way…” [43:52]).

8. Botched Hit-and-Run Attempt [44:01–49:00]

• August 30, 2023 Plot: A flatbed truck attempts to back over Tatiana in her driveway—driver fails, security cam + eyewitnesses abound.
• Evident Connection: Truck traced back to the hitman team, more security footage, rental agreements trail.

9. Second Hit Squad and Gunpoint Ambush [49:01–55:00]

• Second Team Assembled: Sergio works with convicted felon Fausto Villar to hire another set of hitmen, offering $300K if results are untraceable.
• June 23, 2024—Gunman Confronts Tatiana: Gunman Vernon tries to ambush Tatiana but she escapes by accelerating into her backyard, sounding the horn (“Thank goodness she was always watching her back, but also like, how awful is that?” [48:00]).
• 911 Call Highlight: Hearing Tatiana’s daughter, Alessandra, in panic (“There’s a guy with a gun…” [50:34])
  [50:34–53:01]: Real-time distress as the plan fails and police scramble to respond.

10. Arrests, Wiretaps, and the House of Cards Collapses [55:01–59:22]

• Wiretap Evidence: Police intercept calls between Fausto and Avery openly discussing the murder plot, the “other team,” and hiding evidence.

  “They were literally laying out all of the evidence, even more than the police ever even knew about. So perfectly just right there on a silver platter.” [55:45]

• Investigators Connect Dots: Search warrants on Sergio’s phone confirm active communication with hitmen; Sergio nonetheless maintains innocence publicly.

11. The SWAT Raids and Sergio’s Suicide [59:23–1:04:30]

• June 28, 2024: Massive FBI/ SWAT raid at Sergio’s home and office; dramatic standoff with flashbangs, drones, full neighborhood spectacle.
• July 16, 2024: Second raid, Sergio refuses to exit for hours, then is found dead by suicide in his home (“Rather than face the consequences for trying to kill his wife…” [1:04:30]).
• Public Reaction: Company puts out generic condolences; obituary comments sidestep the dark truth.

12. Aftermath: Financial Fallout and Lingering Questions [1:04:31–End]

• Sergio’s Final Act of Spite: Changes his will the day before death, attempts to leave Tatiana nothing; names his brother Carlos as estate controller; legal battles ensue.
• Tatiana’s Resilience: With help from friends and family, particularly Lisa and Aurora, Tatiana survives the ordeal and speaks about her faith and recovery on Lisa's podcast ("God was the one who just…mended my wounds." [1:06:05])
• Case Status: All nine alleged co-conspirators indicted; trials pending.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sergio’s hubris:

  “Most murderers are not criminal masterminds. I get that. It’s not like the movies. But did Sergio actually think that now that Tatiana knew that she had been poisoned and now that she knew that he was behind it, that nobody would be suspicious if she just dropped dead one day?… Hello? Der. Everybody would look at the husband, right?” ([29:36])

• On Tatiana’s survival instinct:

  “Thank goodness she was always watching her back, but also like, how awful is that? That she had to go through this so many times to where she still had to be watching her back.” ([48:00])

• Tatiana’s daughter’s 911 call:

  “There’s a guy with a gun… Yes, he just pointed a gun at me… They might have shot her…” ([50:34])

• On the “criminal masterminds”:

  “These guys were complete morons.” ([53:20])
  “They were literally laying out all of the evidence, even more than the police ever even knew about. So perfectly just right there on a silver platter.” ([55:45])

• On Sergio’s suicide:

  “Rather than face justice, rather than face the consequences for trying to kill his wife, Tatianna.” ([1:04:30])

• On aftermath and support:

  "But God is close to the brokenhearted, it says in the Bible. So I, I, I turned to friends, I turned to family, and, and ultimately God was the one who just…mended my heart." (Tatiana on Lisa's podcast, [1:06:05])

• Annie’s summary and message:

  “It’s kind of like, again, these greedy, greedy, wealthy people—just get a divorce… Like, how did you win in this? Did the ends justify the means? I don't know. It just makes no sense to me.” ([1:11:00])

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• [03:10] — Sergio’s background and ambition
• [12:20] — The age gap; Annie’s take
• [14:45] — Sergio’s affair exposed
• [20:50] — Friendsgiving poisoning incident
• [27:35] — Tatiana’s chronic mysterious illness
• [30:16] — Fentanyl discovered in Tatiana’s system
• [36:01] — Divorce negotiations and Sergio’s financial motive
• [40:01] — Aurora’s cars set on fire
• [44:01] — Attempted hit-and-run
• [49:01] — Second murder crew; driveway ambush and 911 call
• [55:01] — Wiretap bombshell and team’s phone blunders
• [59:23] — SWAT raids, Sergio’s final hours, and suicide
• [1:04:31] — Legal mess, inheritance games, and Tatiana’s fortitude

Final Thoughts and Open Questions

• Annie emphasizes how greed, ego, and lack of empathy escalated a marriage dispute into a saga of botched murder attempts, legal chaos, and heartbreak.
• She questions Sergio’s true motive for the poisoning, especially since attacks started pre-divorce.
• She prompts listeners to consider what red flags might have been overlooked, and reflects on the resilience needed to survive such a campaign of violence and manipulation.
• Ends with Annie’s signature advice:

  “Be nice, don’t kill people, don’t join any cults, and just get a divorce.”

For those who haven’t listened, this episode is a wild, deeply researched, and empathetically told journey into the darkest side of marital dissolution among the ultra-wealthy—and the power of vigilance and community in the face of evil.