Jack Kirby Garcia, age 9, was beaten to death by his uncle, Jacob Andrew Barajas, and his mother’s boyfriend, Robert Leroy Wilson. Jack’s mother, Oriana Iris Garcia, knew about and sanctioned the beating. After the beating, she delayed getting medical care for Jack, contributing to his death. Jack was homeschooled.
Jack was enrolled in public school in Galeta, California when his mother moved him to Maryland in February 2015. Garcia told her landlord that she “was unable to get [Jack] into school” in Maryland; according to one news report, she “didn’t enroll [Jack] in public schools and considered home-schooling instead.” Instead of attending school, Jack lived in Wilson’s apartment with the unemployed Barajas, who regularly beat him, supposedly in response to “behavioral problems”. Garcia also “planned and participated” in the abuse, including “making Jack eat until he felt sick and forcing him to exercise.” On June 30, according to Barajas, Jack stole a piece of birthday cake intended for Anita, Wilson’s 2-year-old daughter. Barajas called Garcia and she “agreed that Jack needed to be disciplined and gave Wilson permission to carry out the child’s punishment.” Barajas handcuffed the boy to a chair while Wilson beat Jack until he passed out. That evening, Barajas called an ambulance because Jack was having difficulty breathing; Garcia sent the ambulance away to avoid a child abuse charge. Four hours later Wilson called paramedics again, but by that time Jack’s injuries were too severe. He died in the hospital five days later.
Wilson pleaded guilty to murder and is serving 30 years in prison. Garcia and Barajas pleaded guilty to child abuse.
Date: July 5, 2015
Location: Hagerstown, Maryland
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