Woman Found Chained and Tortured in Austin Backyard

Something that sounds like it came out of a horror movie just happened in Austin, Texas.

Police say they found a woman half-naked and shackled to a metal punching bag stand in a South Austin backyard.

Austin officers responded to an Austin home after receiving urgent calls about a woman screaming for help. When they arrived, they quickly located the female in the backyard area. Officers observed clear signs of torture and distress, and even had to call in firefighters to cut through shackles to free her.

According to police, five adults: Michelle Garcia (51), Crystal Garcia (21), Mache Carney (32), Juan Pablo Castro (30), and Maynard Lefevers (21) tried to run when officers arrived, but were immediately caught. Two small children were also found living in the home and taken into CPS custody.

 Investigators say the group had held the woman captive for 5 months, beating her whenever she tried to escape. Michelle Harcia told investigators she only allowed the victim to eat one meal a day because she was getting “chunky.”

According to reports, Castro explained that when he’d get home from work, he’d grab the BB gun from his closet and “chase her around the yard,” saying he “f**king hates her.”

A 4-year-old boy, who was only identified as Castro’s son, told investigators that his dad would shoot the woman whenever she was “bad,” while his mom, Carney, stood by and watched.

The suspects are all charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to the elderly or disabled, and unlawful restraint. They’re being held in Travis County Jail on $305,000 bond each.