A mother and her adult son are currently on trial in California, facing charges related to a kidnapping plot that took place in 2016. Sandra Garcia, aged 48, and her son, Mark Anthony Roque, aged 25, are accused of various felonies connected to the kidnapping of a then-13-year-old girl. Their trial began in late September in Fresno County, and two other individuals, including one of Garcia's sons, are also facing charges in connection with the case.
The victim testified last month, describing the terrifying incident that unfolded before her. She recounted how men dressed in black had approached her front door, tied her up, covered her eyes with tape, and forced her into the trunk of a car. This horrifying event occurred just minutes after she had gotten off the school bus and before she could reach the safety of her home.
During her recent testimony, the now 20-something victim revealed that after the abduction, she was subjected to further atrocities.
She was stripped, physically assaulted, and sexually abused with a stick. Eventually, she was left tied to a tree in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains near Clovis for hours. She managed to escape by freeing herself from the yellow rope that bound her and walked over a mile until she found a homeowner who called the local sheriff.
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office stated that this crime was not a random act but a result of a conspiracy. Sandra Garcia, who was the girlfriend of the victim's father, had allegedly conspired with the other men to carry out the kidnapping.
Miguel Carriedo, aged 47 and Garcia's cousin, was also charged but has become a state's witness after pleading guilty to conspiracy and torture. Garcia's other son, Brandon Roque, aged 26, entered a no contest plea to conspiracy.
Prosecutors argue that Garcia orchestrated the kidnapping as revenge against her ex-boyfriend, Johan Gidstedt, who had asked her to leave his home. The plan was to frighten Gidstedt's then-10-year-old and 13-year-old daughters to the extent that they would want to return to Sweden with their mother, with the hope of winning back Gidstedt's favor.
However, Garcia's actions raised suspicion from the start. Gidstedt, who was out of town at the time of the kidnapping, had asked a friend, Therese Maria Knutsson, to support Garcia. Knutsson testified that Garcia and her family seemed secretive and that Garcia appeared more concerned about herself than the well-being of the children.
Garcia and Roque were arrested and charged in 2016. Testimonies from law enforcement during the trial didn't cast Garcia in a favorable light, as she was described as being confrontational and demanding during the initial investigation.
The victim's younger sister also testified, providing insights into the deteriorating relationship between her father and Garcia. She mentioned a potential motive for the crime, explaining that her father ended the relationship with Garcia toward the end of 2015 because they weren't happy together.
On the day of the kidnapping, the younger sister testified that she had stayed home from school due to illness, which disrupted the plan. Garcia allegedly insisted that she accompany her to a doctor's appointment, and when they returned home around 4:00 p.m., the younger sister grew increasingly worried about her absent sibling.
In another news, a 31-year-old man from California is now facing murder charges for a horrifying crime. He's accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Alyssa Salazar, 33, and then doing unspeakable things to her remains. See detailed story here
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