Monica Spear Dead -- Venezuelan Soap Star Murdered, Young Daughter Survives Vicious Attack

A Venezuelan soap star and her ex-husband were shot to death by a roving band of highway robbers -- but amazingly ... police say the couple's young daughter survived the attack.

Monica Spear -- Miss Venezuela 2004 -- and Henry Thomas Berry were shot and killed after their car broke down near the town of Puerto Cabello in Venezuela.

Police say the family was waiting for a tow truck when the bandits showed up. Spear and Berry locked themselves and their 5-year-old daughter inside the car ... but police say the robbers opened fire, killing them and injuring the girl -- who's hospitalized with a bullet wound to her leg.

The family lived in the U.S., but were on vacation when they were attacked.

Venezuela has one of the world's highest murder rates. According to news reports, violent crime is so bad ... even residents are afraid to venture out at night.