Five people were arrested after police discovered a woman handcuffed and injured outside an Austin home where she told officers she had been held against her will for months, according to the Austin Police Department (APD).
Officers responded to a welfare call at a residence on Bitter Creek Drive after a report of 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,” APD said in a press release. “The woman showed signs of physical distress and had visible injuries consistent with prolonged restraint. She told officers she had been held at the residence for several months and was not allowed to leave.”
Rescuers from Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS helped free the woman and transported her to a local hospital for treatment, where she remains under care.
Five Arrested at the Scene
As police worked to secure the scene, multiple adults exited the home and were detained. Investigators determined that several residents were allegedly involved in restraining and assaulting the victim over an extended period.
Those arrested were identified as:
- Michelle Garcia, 51
- Crystal Garcia, 21
- Mache Carney, 32
- Juan Pablo Castro, 30
- Maynard Lefevers, 21
All five suspects face charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to an elderly or disabled person, and unlawful restraint.
Three young children were also found at the property and were placed in the care of Child Protective Services, authorities said.
The investigation remains ongoing.