14 DAY TRIAL // A missing California woman, who claims to have been kidnapped 10 years ago at the age of 15, escaped from captivity after contacting the police on Tuesday.
The unnamed 25-year-old woman built up the courage to contact the authorities after finding her sister's profile on Facebook and communicating with her. She told police about her ordeal and how she was forced to marry her captor and even have his child, saying that the last 10 years have been a nightmare.
Her complaint led to the arrest of the alleged captor, Isidro Garcia, 41, on suspicion of kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment. He was booked by the Santa Ana Police Department yesterday.
According to an account given by the unidentified woman to the police, it all started in August 2004, when Garcia kidnapped her from her home in the US where he was living with the 15-year-old girl’s mother. He allegedly assaulted the victim's mother and drugged the helpless teenager before taking her away.
A report by Daily Mail says the mother of the girl reported her missing at the time and told officers she suspected Garcia of sexually abusing her, but she couldn't provide evidence to prove her allegations.
The victim says she was first kept in a garage in Compton, then moved to different locations in the following years. In 2007, Garcia allegedly forced her to marry him, and they had a baby daughter in 2012.
The young woman also added that she tried to escape in several occasions, but Garcia caught her and beat her. The man repeatedly told the victim her family had given up looking for her, and if she tried to escape, she would be deported.
After listening to her story, officers from Santa Ana Police Department told reporters that Garcia had “brainwashed” her.
Surprisingly though, the couple's neighbors in Bell Gardens, Los Angeles, described Garcia – whom they knew as Tomas Madrano – as a good and hard-working man.
“He treats her like a queen. He does his best to do whatever she wants,” said a shocked neighbor.
The 25-year-old woman told ABC News in an exclusive interview that she was relieved to be free after nearly a decade of captivity, and grateful to be back home with her family.
“I'm so happy and God-blessed to be with my family. That's what I want all the time. All the time, I cry for them, more for my mom and my sisters,” she said.