WACO, Texas — A teenager took the witness stand on Tuesday in a Waco courtroom, detailing the horrific six years of physical, psychological, and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepmother.
The girl, identified only by the pseudonym K.V., testified about the unthinkable mistreatment she endured, including death threats, malnutrition, forced labor, and being confined to a backyard shed. K.V. spoke in vivid detail, recounting the relentless torment inflicted by her stepmother, Marisela Garcia, 47, of China Spring.
Garcia is currently on trial in Waco’s 19th State District Court facing first-degree felony and second-degree felony charges of injury to a child. Prosecutors presented evidence that illustrated a pattern of abuse that spanned from when K.V. was a young child until she was almost 12 years old.
During her testimony, K.V. described the stark transformation in her relationship with Garcia after her father, Juan Velasquez, 33, and Garcia moved the family to a new home in China Spring. Initially, K.V. recalled, Garcia was “somewhat nice” to her, but the relationship quickly soured once they were living together. “She changed from being somewhat nice to me to being mean all the time,” K.V. said. “She did not accept me. She said I didn’t belong there, that I wasn’t my Dad’s daughter, and that I would never be a part of their family.” The abuse escalated rapidly after the move. Garcia frequently subjected K.V. to cruel and degrading treatment, including forcing her to eat from the trash, denying her food while the rest of the family ate indoors, and making her perform grueling manual labor on the family’s rural property.
K.V. testified that Garcia would punish her by hitting her hands with a piece of wood or sticking pins into her palms to force her to work faster. K.V. also described numerous physical assaults, including being choked, forced to eat her own feces and that of animals, and being physically beaten with objects like rocks and a spoon. “She forced me to the ground and stepped on top of me,” K.V. tearfully recalled. “I was not allowed to scream or flinch.
If I screamed, she would put her foot on my neck and tell me to shut up.” In addition to physical abuse, K.V. testified that Garcia made constant verbal threats, including urging her to kill herself. Garcia allegedly even suggested methods of suicide, such as hanging herself at her grandparents’ house or jumping in front of a car. The abuse extended to psychological manipulation, as K.V. said Garcia would make her sleep outside in a shed and subjected her to degrading treatment, including taking naked photographs of her and threatening to give them to men who might sexually assault her. Garcia also subjected K.V. to cruel punishments, such as forcing her to wear wet clothing in cold weather.
Despite the extreme nature of the abuse, K.V. said that teachers and school counselors at China Spring Intermediate School began to notice signs of mistreatment, including visible bruises and scars. At first, K.V. denied the cause of her injuries, telling them that the scratches and bruises were from pets at home. However, after Child Protective Services (CPS) and law enforcement officials intervened, K.V. finally opened up about the extent of her stepmother’s cruelty. “I was so scared to go back to that house,” K.V. said, her voice breaking. “But once they told me I didn’t have to go back there, I finally told them the truth.” The girl’s testimony was corroborated by a forensic nurse, who recounted the traumatic injuries K.V. had sustained, which included deep scars and other signs of long-term abuse. The nurse testified that hearing K.V.’s account brought her to tears. In addition to the testimony from K.V., school officials, including Heather Jenkins, principal at China Spring Elementary, and Anne Trevino, a former school counselor, spoke about their efforts to intervene and help the girl.
They described how K.V. arrived at school regularly wearing the same, dirty clothes and how both Garcia and Velasquez attempted to discourage the school staff from speaking to K.V. without their presence. Despite these efforts to deter their involvement, the educators continued to advocate for K.V.’s safety.
Defense attorney Luis A. Merren Jr. questioned several witnesses about the possibility of the injuries being caused by animals, and whether K.V. had a history of dishonesty. He also attempted to downplay the severity of the abuse, asking whether the girl had fabricated or exaggerated her claims. The trial is ongoing, with prosecutors expected to rest their case on Wednesday after the testimony of a psychologist, who is set to discuss the trauma K.V. suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the prolonged abuse.
If convicted, Garcia faces a potential life sentence for the most serious charge, as well as up to 20 years for the lesser charge. K.V.’s biological father, Juan Velasquez, has also been charged in the case, facing a charge of endangering a child.
While he is not on trial this week, his case remains pending.
The emotional toll on K.V. was evident throughout the trial, with moments of visible distress as she recounted the unspeakable cruelty she endured.
For many who have followed the case, her bravery in speaking out is a testament to her resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.
