On a freezing February night in 2021, an industrial patch of Stoney Creek, Ontario, became the site of a crime so bizarre it felt ripped from a Netflix thriller. You’ve probably heard the names Tyler Pratt and Jordyn Romano by now. They weren't just names in a headline; they were a couple planning a future, expecting a child, and caught in the middle of a high-stakes business deal that turned lethal.
The story is honestly wild. It involves an international drug dealer, a social media influencer, a botched million-dollar PPE scam, and a global manhunt that ended in Budapest. But beyond the tabloid buzz, there’s a gritty reality about what happened to Pratt and how Romano survived a "miracle" shot to the heart.
The Setup in Stoney Creek
Tyler Pratt was 39. He was a big guy, muscular, covered in tattoos, and by all accounts from the 2024 trial, he had made a fortune as a high-level cocaine dealer in British Columbia. He was looking for a way to go "legit" or at least diversify. That’s where Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li came in.
The four of them became fast friends in 2020. They’d go to dinners, talk business, and act like the ultimate power-couple quartet. Pratt invested roughly $470,000 into a personal protective equipment (PPE) venture Karafa was running during the height of the pandemic.
By February 2021, Pratt wanted his money back—plus the millions in profit he’d been promised.
On February 28, Karafa and Li lured Pratt and his 26-year-old girlfriend, Jordyn Romano, to a warehouse on Arvin Avenue. The excuse? A new cannabis-growing business opportunity. Romano, who was 13 weeks pregnant at the time, was sitting in her Range Rover with Li to stay warm.
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Then everything went sideways.
A "Calculated Execution"
According to the testimony that eventually brought down the killers, Li stepped out of the car, clearing the way for Karafa. He didn't just fire a warning shot. He shot Romano in the chest.
He then turned the gun on Pratt, who was standing outside. Pratt was shot multiple times, including once in the back of the head. He died on that asphalt.
The killers thought they were done. They hopped into Romano's own Range Rover and drove off to check if anyone had heard the shots. When they came back to "finish the job," Romano was gone.
The Survival of Jordyn Romano
How she survived is still a bit of a medical mystery. The bullet hit her in the chest—essentially her heart—but she managed to crawl to the road. A passing driver found her and called for help.
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Romano spent three days in a coma. When she woke up, she told police exactly who did it.
"I have fake bones in my upper chest. My mother had to hold my body together with a pillow every time I wanted to cough or sneeze for three months." — Jordyn Romano, Victim Impact Statement.
Tragically, the fetus she was carrying did not survive the trauma. While she fought for her life in a Hamilton hospital, Karafa and Li were already on a flight to Eastern Europe.
The Trial and the Verdict
For months, the "Millennial Bonnie and Clyde" were on the run. They were eventually nabbed by Hungarian National Police in Budapest in June 2021.
The trial in 2024 was a circus of finger-pointing.
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- Karafa’s defense: He claimed he didn't plan it. His lawyer argued Pratt was a "volatile criminal" and Karafa snapped out of fear.
- Li’s defense: Her lawyers portrayed her as "the stupidest person on the planet," a naive pawn who had no idea her husband was a murderer.
The jury didn't buy it. In May 2024, both Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li were found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Why It Matters Now
People still talk about Tyler Pratt and Jordyn Romano because it exposes the dark underbelly of "lifestyle" culture. We're talking about half a million dollars—a lot of money to us, but as Romano pointed out, a "pathetic" amount to kill someone over.
Justice Harrison Arrell didn't mince words during sentencing. He called it an "outright execution" driven by "unparalleled greed." Both Karafa and Li are currently serving life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years.
What You Should Take Away
The case is a sobering reminder that "glamorous" business partnerships aren't always what they seem on Instagram. If you're following this case for the legal precedents or just the human drama, the closure came in 2024, but the ripple effects for the families involved are permanent.
Next Steps for Following the Case:
- Review the Court Transcripts: If you're interested in the nuances of the "duress" defense used by Lucy Li, look for the 2024 Hamilton Superior Court filings.
- Monitor Parole Status: While they are in for 25 years, legal updates regarding their appeals (which are common in high-profile Canadian cases) usually surface on the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General’s portal.
- Support Victim Advocacy: Romano has spoken extensively about PTSD and nerve damage. Organizations like the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime offer resources for those navigating the aftermath of violent crime.
The story of Tyler Pratt and Jordyn Romano is finished in the eyes of the law, but the lessons on greed and survival remain.