TEXAS SISTERS, two women are facing federal criminal charges after authorities say a 12-year-old girl who came to them for help was instead subjected to prolonged abuse and exploitation.
Brenda Mariana Garcia, 39, and Tania Evette Garcia, 37, have been charged in federal court with kidnapping and forced labor, both felony offenses. The sisters were previously arrested in October 2025 on state charges including injury to a child and unlawful restraint, before federal prosecutors brought additional charges last month.
According to investigators, the case came to light on Sept. 28, 2025, when a member of the public noticed the child walking alone along a busy roadway. Authorities said the girl appeared injured and malnourished, prompting emergency responders to intervene and transport her for medical care.
The child told officials she had escaped from a nearby residence where she had been living for several months. Investigators later determined that the girl’s mother had been deported years earlier, and the child had previously lived with another relative before coming into contact with the Garcia sisters, who initially claimed they were helping her.
Federal court records allege that after taking the child into their home, the sisters subjected her to repeated physical abuse, severe neglect, and isolation. Prosecutors said the child was not allowed normal access to food, was restrained at times, and was forced to sleep on the floor. Authorities further alleged that the girl was required to perform extensive household and outdoor labor, while other children in the home were not assigned similar responsibilities.
Investigators said the sisters controlled the child’s communication with the outside world and misled authorities and family members about her whereabouts. Prosecutors allege one of the sisters told the child that no one would be searching for her anymore.
The victim’s mother told investigators she initially believed the sisters were protecting her daughter, but later became concerned when her attempts to contact the child were ignored.
Both Brenda and Tania Garcia are currently being held in federal custody without bond. Court records show they are scheduled to appear for bond hearings on Feb. 13.
