Overview
- Austin police responding on Oct. 30 to a welfare call at 1700 Bitter Creek Drive found a woman handcuffed to exercise equipment with visible injuries, and fire crews used cutting tools to remove heavy metal restraints before she was hospitalized.
- Affidavit accounts say the woman was held for months, forced to live outside at times, limited to one meal a day, and repeatedly shot with BB guns as punishment.
- Medical evaluations describe severe malnutrition, open wounds and wrist swelling consistent with prolonged restraint, with imaging detecting a BB embedded in her right eye.
- Michelle Garcia, 51; Crystal Garcia, 21; Mache Carney, 32; Juan Pablo Castro, 30; and Maynard Lefevers, 21, were arrested on charges including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to an elderly or disabled person, and unlawful restraint, with total bail set at $305,000.
- Investigators cite statements in which Castro allegedly admitted shooting her with a BB gun, children at the residence were placed in Child Protective Services care, and initial court dates are set for Nov. 18, Nov. 21, and Dec. 15.