A California couple faces severe child abuse charges for allegedly torturing an 11-year-old girl over a year.
Abuse Allegations
Priscilla Mestaz, 37, and Anthony Machuca, 36, are each charged with 27 counts, including torture, conspiracy to torture, child endangerment likely to cause great harm or death, child injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats. The girl, Mestaz’s niece, lived with them since summer 2024; abuse reportedly started in January 2025, involving strangling, punching, slapping, dog-leash dragging, verbal threats, forced exhausting exercise, and malnutrition.
Living Conditions
They confined her to an unheated, uninsulated garage without bedding, even in winter, and denied adequate food. Home surveillance footage confirmed she lived mostly in the garage and backyard, exposed to extreme temperatures.
Arrest and Investigation
Alerted January 31, 2026, after the girl refused to return home citing abuse, deputies found Mestaz pregnant and a 4-year-old present. Machuca was arrested immediately; Mestaz after childbirth on March 12. Mestaz worked as a child services case manager. The infants were taken into protective custody; both suspects held on $1 million bail each, with possible additional charges.
