Robert Barrientos, the fiancé of Telemundo and NBC reporter Eliana Moreno, has drawn attention following the helicopter crash that killed Moreno and two other people.
Moreno and Barrientos were engaged at the time of her death. In the months before the crash, Moreno had publicly documented several milestones they shared as a couple.
In the aftermath of the fatal crash, NBC News sought comment from Barrientos as it reported on Moreno’s death.
An aerial view shows the scene of the fatal helicopter crash in Chatsworth, California, on September 16, 2026. Three people were killed when the NBC4 Los Angeles helicopter crashed and caught fire near the site of an earlier fatal collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus. | Source: Getty Images
Moreno and Barrientos Were Engaged Before the Crash
Moreno publicly confirmed her engagement to Barrientos months before her death. On October 28, 2025, her Facebook account showed an “Engaged to Robert” relationship update.
The following day, Moreno shared an Instagram video from a trip to Tennessee. In the video, she showed a ring on her hand and later displayed it while standing beside Barrientos.
“I will remember this trip to Tennessee for the rest of my life. 💍 🧡,” Moreno wrote.
Moreno shared this image with Barrientos during a Tennessee trip in October 2025. The post came one day after she announced their engagement on Facebook, and the accompanying video showed her displaying a ring. | Source: Instagram/eli_in_the_heli
The engagement remained part of Moreno’s public posts in the months that followed.
Barrientos Was Beside Moreno for a Major Milestone in May
In May, Moreno shared another milestone with Barrientos when the couple completed a half-marathon together.
NBC News also reported that Moreno and her fiancé had run the race together.
The accomplishment was significant for Moreno, who said on Instagram that she had “always” had bad asthma. She wrote that she had been medically excused from running in school because it was “guaranteed to send me into an asthma attack.”
Moreno began 2026 with a goal of running one mile by the end of the year. Instead, she eventually completed the OC Marathon half-marathon with Barrientos in under two hours.
“I ran the half-marathon at the @ocmarathon with my fiancé @rob3rt_z in under two hours!” she wrote.
Moreno and Barrientos posed with their medals after completing the OC Marathon half-marathon in May. Moreno had started the year with a goal of running one mile after years of being medically excused from running in school because of her asthma. | Source: Instagram/eli_in_the_heli
The race was among the milestones Moreno publicly shared with Barrientos before her death.
