By admin :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(947x721:949x723)/salt-lake-city-police-051925-69ac6f520dbd4ac58353f0050f2bc88f.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Utah Man Allegedly Held His Girlfriend and Her Household Hostage for six Months")
NEED TO KNOW
- A household of seven allowed their daughter’s boyfriend, Dominic Garcia, to maneuver into their residence in December 2024
- Rapidly, he allegedly informed the household that his household was a part of a enterprise with ties to a cartel they usually wanted to abide by his directions to remain alive
- Earlier than his arrest on Saturday, Might 17, he held the whole household hostage and woud threaten to kill them over the course of six months
A 23-year-old man was arrested on 28 costs after he allegedly terrorized a Millcreek, Utah, household for almost six months, in response to the affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
Dominic Garcia was booked in Salt Lake County Jail on Saturday, Might 17, for 28 complete alleged offenses, together with seven counts of aggravated assault, seven counts of aggravated kidnapping, seven counts of menace of violence, and 7 counts of hazing involving the usage of a harmful weapon, per the court docket paperwork.
Better Salt Lake law enforcement officials responded to a name from a Millcreek residence {that a} man and his six members of the family had been held towards their will by their pregnant daughter’s boyfriend, Garcia. The complainant, known as “RS” within the affidavit, informed authorities that they have been holding Garcia at gunpoint as a result of they “weren’t in a position to take it any longer.”
Upon the authorities’ arrival, they discovered Garcia at gunpoint. He was taken into custody with out incident. The household was then interviewed by detectives.
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Garcia started residing with the household in December 2024, after the household allegedly allowed him to maneuver into their residence. Garcia informed the household, “nearly instantly,” that his household was a part of a enterprise with ties to a cartel. He mentioned for the household “to remain on the cartel’s good aspect,” they needed to do what Garcia mentioned, per the affidavit.
Allegedly, Garcia “repeatedly informed them the cartel would kill them if they didn’t do what they have been informed.” RS purchased a handgun out of safety, after which Garcia started carrying across the residence, in the end intimidating the household.
Then, sooner or later, Garcia allegedly mentioned that his household had made a foul deal, and he and the victims needed to go away the house for over a month. However as soon as they returned, one of many members of the family known as “HS,” texted a good friend explaining their disappearance. Garcia noticed the textual content and instantly responded by threatening to kill the household in the event that they stepped out of line.
Garcia then allegedly pressured HS right into a “boot camp,” which included 5 exercises a day at any hour of the day. HS was additionally pressured to do ice baths and made to carry her face underwater to the purpose of being unable to breathe.
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Additionally, in consequence, he allegedly monitored the members of the family’ telephones and restricted who may go away the house, and for a most of two hours per individual.
One other member of the family, known as AS, informed authorities that she solely left residence thrice after they returned from their month-long disappearance. She was additionally informed to face guard till 5:30 a.m. each evening.
Seventeen-year-old member of the family, “TS,” missed a month of her senior yr of highschool and “was extraordinarily scared and believed her life was in peril.”
Garcia’s pregnant girlfriend, “KS,” mentioned Garcia made threats to kill her and her household on “quite a few events.” Garcia additionally “choked out their pet canine on events when he turned upset and had been violent in the direction of her sister HS.”
After his arrest and being knowledgeable of his Miranda rights, Garcia admitted to carrying the gun, placing HS via the boot camp and that each one the claims in regards to the cartel have been lies. He mentioned he “didn’t know easy methods to cease it in worry that they might not like him.”
Garcia is at present being held with out bail.
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The affidavit included arguments for felony costs to be filed and claimed Garcia is a flight danger and will flee to his household in Mexico.
The affidavit states that the household believes Garcia “remains to be a hazard to them and can come after them if he’s set free of jail,” and a number of members of the family imagine there’s nonetheless an opportunity the cartel may kill them.