TX - Woman was tortured and chained in backyard for months by friends who didn't like her anymore - Austin, Oct 2025

[Clearsky]

Half-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained in Texas backyard for months by five ‘friends’ who didn’t ‘like her anymore’

The victim told investigators that she’d been friends with Michelle Garcia, but stated that the group “at some point, they decided they no longer liked her,” and the five decided to keep her as a c…

nypost.com

The suspects — Michelle Garcia, 51, Crystal Garcia, 21, Mache Carney, 32, Juan Pablo Castro, 30, and Maynard Lefevers, 21 — had allegedly held the victim captive for months, police said.

https://nypost.com/2025/11/06/us-ne...ng-held-captive-by-five-suspects-for-months/#

 

[JoeFromLB]

Monsters.
Lock them up for forty years.

 

[PatLaurel]

Monsters.
Lock them up for forty years.

... chained and subjected to the same torment they inflicted!

MOO JMO

 

[elliefant]

It always amazes me when 2 people think something like this is a good idea, but 5?!

 

[tlcya]

the house isn't in the middle of nowhere, these people live in a heavily populated urban area (Austin) with close and visible neighboring properties/buildings. The home is basically in a trailer park FGS. How the H e double toothpicks were these folks so brazen as to conduct some of this torture in the backyard? Did nobody hear the woman's screams before now??

APD Arrests Five Suspects in Connection to Aggravated Assault/Unlawful Restraint Case | AustinTexas.gov

map of the area

According to the affidavit, the woman was found with hundreds of small BB scars across her body and a swollen shut right eye from a pellet injury. Austin police said three young children were found at the property and were placed in the care of Child Protective Services (CPS).
Affidavit: Woman shot with BB gun and handcuffed outside South Austin home

thank goodness for the person who finally heard her screams for help and called it in. The five accused are due in court December 15th and the children from the home are in the custody of CPS.

Horrible what people in a pack will do to others. That pack mindset, lord of the flies type crap right here.

 

[Gemmie]

Monsters.
Lock them up for forty years.

40 yrs? You're sure lenient, aren't you?

 

[Gemmie]

The victim also said that the night before being found, her pants slipped down and she “got in trouble.” She was then shot with a BB gun, cuffed to a backyard stand and left there half-naked overnight as “punishment” while temperatures plunged into the 40s, the affidavit revealed.
During her captivity, she sustained extensive injuries, including open wounds, severe swelling of the wrists, loss of tissue from her hands and feet, widespread scarring from BB gun pellets, and significant facial trauma.

After she was transported to a local hospital, doctors determined her injuries matched weeks of torture and restraint. Scans also found a BB was lodged in her right eye.

Castro allegedly told police he shot the woman with an electric rifle-style BB gun because he “didn’t want to touch her.”

[This kid will likely grow up not to be a contributing member of society IMO]

One of the children found at the home — a 4-year-old boy identified as Castro’s son — said his dad shot the woman whenever she was “bad,” and that his mom, Carney, usually stood by and watched.

Half-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained in Texas backyard for months by five ‘friends’ who didn’t ‘like her anymore’

The victim told investigators that she’d been friends with Michelle Garcia, but stated that the group “at some point, they decided they no longer liked her,” and the five decided to keep her as a c…

nypost.com

 

[PatLaurel]

It always amazes me when 2 people think something like this is a good idea, but 5?!

Wait until you them posing on FB like a big happy "normal" family. Disgusting!

I wonder if that (recent) tear tattoo under JPC's eye actually means what it’s supposed to or he’s just a bad-guy wannabe playing the part?

MOO JMO

 

[tlcya]

Michelle Garcia FB

Crystal Garcia FB

Juan Pablo Castro FB

Maynard Lefevers FB

I can't find one for Mache Carney

I bet there is heavy drug use among this group. JMO

 

[Maat99]

[This kid will likely grow up not to be a contributing member of society IMO]

One of the children found at the home — a 4-year-old boy identified as Castro’s son — said his dad shot the woman whenever she was “bad,” and that his mom, Carney, usually stood by and watched.

Aww. I don’t think that’s fair. Kids can have horribly traumatizing events happen in their childhood, and/or grow up with terrible parents and still choose a different path for themselves.

 

[Gemmie]

Aww. I don’t think that’s fair. Kids can have horribly traumatizing events happen in their childhood, and/or grow up with terrible parents and still choose a different path for themselves.

I sure hope you're right and that I'm wrong!!!

 

[tlcya]

For those who want to follow this prosecution: The court public records search site can be found HERE: Smart Search - Travis County Odyssey Portal

Case No. C-1-CR-25-213024
State of Texas VS. CARNEY, MACHE NICOLE
currently charged w Unlawful restraint (a misdemeanor)

Case No. C-1-CR-25-213032
State of Texas VS. LEFEVERS, MAYNARD JAMES
currently charged w Unlawful restraint (a misdemeanor)


Case No. C-1-CR-25-213034
State of Texas VS. GARCIA, CRYSTAL RIN
currently charged w Unlawful restraint (a misdemeanor)

Case No. C-1-CR-25-213033
State of Texas VS. CASTRO, JUAN PABLO
currently charged w Unlawful restraint (a misdemeanor)

Case No. C-1-CR-25-213025
State of Texas VS. GARCIA, MICHELLE JEANETTE
currently charged w Unlawful restraint (a misdemeanor)

I fully expect these charges are just the beginning if what the victim reportedly suffered at their hands is correct.

 

[JoeFromLB]

Michelle's Facebook page is disgusting. She may be a satanist.
Just my two cents...

 

[iamshadow21]

The victim also said that the night before being found, her pants slipped down and she “got in trouble.” She was then shot with a BB gun, cuffed to a backyard stand and left there half-naked overnight as “punishment” while temperatures plunged into the 40s, the affidavit revealed.
During her captivity, she sustained extensive injuries, including open wounds, severe swelling of the wrists, loss of tissue from her hands and feet, widespread scarring from BB gun pellets, and significant facial trauma.

After she was transported to a local hospital, doctors determined her injuries matched weeks of torture and restraint. Scans also found a BB was lodged in her right eye.

Castro allegedly told police he shot the woman with an electric rifle-style BB gun because he “didn’t want to touch her.”

[This kid will likely grow up not to be a contributing member of society IMO]

One of the children found at the home — a 4-year-old boy identified as Castro’s son — said his dad shot the woman whenever she was “bad,” and that his mom, Carney, usually stood by and watched.

Half-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained in Texas backyard for months by five ‘friends’ who didn’t ‘like her anymore’

The victim told investigators that she’d been friends with Michelle Garcia, but stated that the group “at some point, they decided they no longer liked her,” and the five decided to keep her as a c…

nypost.com

This reminds me so much of Sam Nordquist. He didn't survive his ordeal. Thank goodness this woman has. May she receive the care and healing she needs.

MOO

 

[browneyes]

Monsters, just monsters.

 

[tlcya]

Michelle's Facebook page is disgusting. She may be a satanist.
Just my two cents...

nah, just trash trying to act like she's tough stuff. JMO

 

[WhisperingEyes]

The NYP article states they were also charged with "injury to the elderly or disabled." I wonder if they held her captive to collect her disability or social security payments?

MOO- What they did to this woman is diabolical. To hold her captive for months because they didn't like her isn't much of a motive. Collecting her payments/benefits is though.

 

[tlcya]

The NYP article states they were also charged with "injury to the elderly or disabled." I wonder if they held her captive to collect her disability or social security payments?

MOO- What they did to this woman is diabolical. To hold her captive for months because they didn't like her isn't much of a motive. Collecting her payments/benefits is though.

I look forward to seeing the charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to the elderly or disabled, added to the court's docket. So far all I could find was their charges for unlawful restraint.

elderly or disabled adult. Either way, pretty despicable.

 

[PatLaurel]

I can't find one for Mache Carney

Log into Facebook

This is her FB. She's JPC's wife. Mache Nicole Carney aka Nicole Garcia.

 

[Izzylizzy]