AUSTIN, TEXAS - A severely injured and half-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained up in the backyard of a Texas home for months, leading to the arrest of five individuals who allegedly starved and shot the defenseless victim with BB guns.
The Austin Police Department (APD) responded to a 911 call around 9 a.m. on October 30 regarding a woman screaming for help and restrained outdoors on the city's south side.
The Rescue and Initial Discovery
Officers arrived at the home to find an unnamed woman shackled to metal exercise equipment, specifically a punching bag stand, and naked from the waist down. Authorities noted the victim was suffering from severe injuries and showed "signs of physical distress... consistent with prolonged restraint."
Due to the rusted and secure nature of the restraints, first responders had to call the Austin Fire Department to use special equipment to cut the metal links to free the victim. She was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Allegations of Months of Captivity and Abuse
While officers were securing the scene, five adults attempted to flee the residence but were immediately caught and detained. Police also found two small children inside the home, who were placed in the care of Child Protective Services.
The victim told investigators that she was initially friends with Michelle Garcia, but the group "decided they no longer liked her," which led to them holding her captive. She alleged she was forced to live outside for weeks and was beaten when she tried to escape.
An affidavit reviewed by local media described details of the alleged abuse, stating that the victim was forced to live outside for weeks, beaten when she tried to escape, and given only one plate of food per day, leaving her severely malnourished. One suspect allegedly justified the starvation by saying the victim “had gotten chunky.”
She suffered extensive injuries consistent with prolonged torture, including open wounds, severe wrist swelling, tissue loss on her hands and feet, facial trauma, and numerous scars from BB gun pellets, with one pellet later found lodged in her right eye. The night before her rescue, she was allegedly shot with a BB gun, handcuffed to a backyard structure, and left half-naked overnight as temperatures dropped into the 40s.
Suspects' Statements and Charges
Suspect Juan Pablo Castro, 30, allegedly admitted to purchasing an electric BB gun specifically "to shoot her" because he "didn't want to touch her."
He reportedly told police he would grab the gun and "chase her around the yard" after returning from work, stating he "f–king hates her."
One of the children at the home, identified as Castro’s 4-year-old son, told investigators his father would shoot the woman when she was "bad."
The five suspects arrested and charged are Michelle Garcia, 51, Crystal Garcia, 21, Mache Carney, 32, Juan Pablo Castro, 30, and Maynard Lefevers, 21.
Charges and Court Dates
All five suspects were arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to the elderly or disabled, and unlawful restraint. They are all currently held at the Travis County Jail on $305,000 bail each.
The case remains under investigation. Mache Carney and Michelle Garcia are set to appear in court on November 18 and 21, respectively, while Crystal Garcia, Juan Pablo Castro, and Maynard Lefevers are scheduled for December 15.
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