SICKENING: Half-naked woman allegedly tortured and chained for months by ‘friends’ who didn’t ‘like her anymore’

November 6, 2025

From the New York Post: A half-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained up in the backyard of a Texas home for months — leading to the arrest of five people who allegedly starved and shot at the defenseless victim with BB guns.

The Austin Police Department responded to a home on the south side of the city around 9 a.m. Oct. 30 after a 911 call was made regarding a woman screaming for help and handcuffed to metal exercise equipment in the backyard, according to a press release.

Officers arrived to find the unnamed woman suffering from severe injuries, naked from the waist down, and shackled to a punching bag stand.

The Austin Fire Department had to be called to bring special equipment to cut through the metal to free the woman.

The victim told police that she’d been friends with one the suspects, but said at some point, the decided they didn’t like her anymore, forced her to live outside, and beat her every time she tried to get away.

The victim was only given one plate of food a day, and the group had kept her shackled to a metal exercise stand, sometimes with both wrists locked behind her, the report explains.

The press release from the Austin Police Department reads:

Case: 25-3030489
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 9:09 a.m.
Location: 1700 Bitter Creek Drive

Arrested: Michelle Garcia, Hispanic female, 51 years of age
Crystal Garcia, Hispanic female, 21 years of age
Mache Carney, White female, 32 years of age
Juan Pablo Castro, Hispanic male, 30 years of age
Maynard Lefevers, White male, 21 years of age

On Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 9:09 a.m., Austin Police (APD) officers responded to a Check Welfare Urgent call at 1700 Bitter Creek Drive. The call text reported a woman in distress who appeared to be restrained and calling for help.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found an adult woman outside the home handcuffed to a piece of exercise equipment. The woman showed signs of physical distress and had visible injuries consistent with prolonged restraint. The woman told officers she had been held at the residence for several months and was not allowed to leave. Officers immediately worked to free her and requested assistance from Austin Fire (AFD) and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS). Due to the condition of the restraints, officers were forced to cut through heavy metal links to release her safely. ATCEMS transported the woman to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment, where she remains at this time.

While officers were assisting the woman, multiple adults began exiting the residence. Those individuals were detained while officers secured the scene to ensure there were no additional victims or potential threats inside. Three young children were also located at the property. They were safely removed and placed in the care of Child Protective Services for safety and support.

Preliminary information gathered at the scene, including interviews and evidence, indicates that multiple adults living at the residence were involved in restraining and assaulting the victim over a period of time.

Five adults were arrested and charged with Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Injury to Elderly or Disabled, and Unlawful Restraint.

APD Arrests Five Suspects in Connection to Aggravated Assault/Unlawful Restraint Case – https://t.co/IlAEB9BJIO pic.twitter.com/TDKVjnbouF

— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) October 31, 2025