A Texas stepmom has been convicted of abusing her stepdaughter after the girl suffered years of psychological and physical abuse.
KWTX reported that after almost six years of abuse, jurors in Waco’s 19th State District Court found Marisela Garcia, 47, guilty on Wednesday. The decision came after only 15 minutes of deliberation, and they recommended that Judge Thomas West sentence Garcia to the maximum penalty.
Court records identify the child using the initials K.V.
From approximately ages 6 to 12, Garcia encouraged K.V. to kill herself, made her live in deplorable conditions in a backyard shed, beat her regularly, and fed her from a garbage can. The abuse seriously disturbed even the most experienced childcare professionals and law enforcement officers.
Dr. Whitney Crowson, a licensed clinical psychologist from Houston, said, “The torture, the abuse that K.V. has gone through has become a part of her.” Dr. Crowson testified that this was one of the worst cases of abuse she has encountered in her career, according to KXXV.
After Garcia’s conviction, K.V. gave an emotional impact statement to a courtroom full of people, KWTX reported.
“You always told me no one would believe a little girl, but they did and still do,” she said. “I hope while you are in jail you repent for what you did to me. This marks the new beginning in my life, and now you have to live with it for the rest of your life.”
District Attorney Josh Tetens said, “Our team is grateful to be among the dedicated professionals who stood between a truly evil perpetrator and this courageous child.” That group of professionals includes teachers, counselors, law enforcement officers, doctors, nurses, prosecutors, and victim advocates.
“To any child who is secretly suffering, these heroes are waiting to listen and to protect,” he added.
K.V.’s father, Juan Velasquez, 33, has been charged with two counts of injury to a child for allowing Garcia to abuse his daughter. Count 1 could result in up to 20 years in prison, and Count 2 could render up to 10 years in prison. Both counts are felonies, according to KWTX.
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[Feature Photo: Maricella Garcia/Instagram via KWTX]