A woman was found half-naked and chained to exercise equipment in an Austin backyard after authorities say five suspects held her captive for months, subjecting her to starvation, beatings, and torture with BB guns. The horrific discovery was made after a 911 caller reported hearing screams for help coming from the property.

The Austin Police Department responded to a home on the city's south side around 9 a.m. on Oct. 30 after receiving the distress call, according to the New York Post. Officers discovered the unnamed woman suffering from severe injuries and shackled to a punching bag stand.

The five suspects — Michelle Garcia, 51, Crystal Garcia, 21, Mache Carney, 32, Juan Pablo Castro, 30, and Maynard Lefevers, 21 — have been charged with aggravated kidnapping and multiple other felonies. Two small children found at the home were placed in Child Protective Services custody.

Rescue Efforts Required Special Equipment

First responders immediately attempted to free the woman but encountered significant challenges due to the nature of her restraints. Officers had to call the Austin Fire Department to bring specialized cutting equipment to sever the metal chains binding her to the exercise equipment.

"The woman showed signs of physical distress and had visible injuries consistent with prolonged restraint," police stated in their report. The victim was found naked from the waist down and displaying extensive injuries from weeks of alleged abuse.

As rescue workers labored to free the woman, the five adult suspects inside the home noticed the police activity and attempted to flee. All were immediately apprehended and detained before they could escape the property.

Alleged Friendship Turned Into Captivity

The victim told investigators she had previously been friends with Michelle Garcia before the relationship deteriorated dramatically. According to an affidavit obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, the victim stated that "at some point, they decided they no longer liked her," prompting the group to hold her captive.

Authorities said the woman was forced to live outside for weeks and was beaten whenever she attempted to escape. Detectives have not yet determined the exact timeframe of when the victim was first taken captive or the precise duration of her ordeal.

The victim endured severe deprivation during her captivity, receiving only one plate of food per day while shackled to the metal exercise stand. Michelle Garcia allegedly told investigators she limited the woman's meals because she thought the victim had gotten "chunky," though police noted the woman appeared severely malnourished.

Torture Methods Included BB Gun Attacks

The night before her rescue, the victim's pants slipped down and she "got in trouble," leading to a BB gun attack as punishment. She was then cuffed to the backyard stand and left half-naked overnight while temperatures dropped into the 40s.

Castro allegedly admitted to police that he shot the woman with an electric rifle-style BB gun because he "didn't want to touch her." He also confessed that after work, he would retrieve the BB gun from his closet and "chase her around the yard," expressing that he "f–king hates her."

A 4-year-old boy identified as Castro's son told authorities his father shot the woman whenever she was "bad." The child also stated that his mother, Carney, usually stood by and watched the attacks unfold.

Medical Examination Reveals Extensive Injuries

Hospital doctors confirmed the victim's injuries were consistent with weeks of torture and prolonged restraint. The woman sustained open wounds, severe wrist swelling, tissue loss from hands and feet, widespread scarring from BB gun pellets, and significant facial trauma.

Medical scans revealed a BB pellet lodged in her right eye, providing physical evidence of the alleged attacks. The comprehensive medical examination documented the full extent of the victim's suffering during her months-long ordeal.

All five suspects remain incarcerated at Travis County Jail on $305,000 bail each, facing charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to the elderly or disabled, and unlawful restraint. Court dates are scheduled for November and December as the investigation continues.

Lessons to Learn

Community members can reflect on several sobering takeaways from this devastating case. While no one is ever to blame for being harmed, awareness and precaution can sometimes help reduce risk in dangerous situations.

1. Stay connected and check in: If someone you care about suddenly drops off the radar, reach out or notify authorities if something feels off. Isolation can be a red flag in abuse cases, especially when victims fear retaliation or feel too ashamed to ask for help.

2. Protect children from exposure: Kids as young as 4 witnessed disturbing behavior in this home. Always report suspected abuse—not just for the adult victims, but to prevent psychological trauma to vulnerable minors who may be present.

3. Know the signs of coercion: Sometimes abuse is hidden in plain sight. Neighbors or acquaintances may hear distress calls or see unusual behavior but hesitate to act. When in doubt, calling 911 can be life-saving.

Why This Story Matters

This case highlights the chilling reality of captivity and abuse that can fester behind closed doors—and even in outdoor spaces just steps away from others. It underscores how cruelty can be inflicted by people once considered friends. It also reveals the importance of community vigilance and swift intervention by law enforcement in responding to emergency calls. The survival of the victim may depend on how quickly someone acts on a gut feeling. This story serves as a wake-up call for continued awareness, education, and attention to signs of abuse in our neighborhoods.

In conclusion, what began with a call about screaming led authorities to an unimaginable scene involving chains, BB guns, and prolonged mistreatment. The tortured victim was a former friend of one of the suspects, allegedly punished and starved for weeks. Five adults now face multiple felony charges, while the case remains under active review. With young children inside the home and no prior reports leading up to the incident, the community and law enforcement are left grappling with how such horror could take place unseen.