by Bakersfield, CA – A California father and stepmother have been charged with first-degree murder and torture in the death of an 8-year-old girl who authorities say endured days of unimaginable abuse before dying inside a Bakersfield hotel bathroom.
According to police, 31-year-old Ray Mata Jr. and his partner, 27-year-old Graciela Bustamonte, were “working in tandem” to repeatedly torture Mata’s daughter, Genesis A. Mata, whose lifeless body was discovered Saturday evening in a bathtub at the La Quinta Inn on Riverside Drive.
A Shocking Scene at a Local Hotel
Responding to a medical emergency call, Bakersfield Police arrived at the hotel around 5:37 p.m. and forced open a locked bathroom door after knocking went unanswered.
Inside, they found Genesis unresponsive in the bathtub, showing “visible signs of substantial trauma.” Paramedics declared her dead at the scene.
Authorities say the caller had been tipped off by someone else that the child might be in danger.
‘Working in Tandem’ to Torture
Details from a probable cause affidavit reveal that Mata and Bustamonte had spent two days inflicting torture on Genesis. The abuse included pouring scalding water onto her body and crushing her hands so severely that her fingernails detached.
According to a report by Law&Crime, both suspects eventually admitted to their roles. Mata told investigators that he punched Genesis in the stomach, causing her to lose consciousness and die. Bustamonte confessed to participating in other acts of abuse that led to the child’s death.
Family Says Warnings Were Ignored
Family members claim they had repeatedly reported signs of abuse to Child Protective Services prior to Genesis’ death, but no intervention occurred. “There were big-time signs,” said cousin Sabrina Guerrero, who attended the court proceedings. “The system failed her.”
A Child Remembered
A GoFundMe page created by another cousin describes Genesis as a vibrant child who “loved anything that sparkled.” The campaign had raised nearly $4,000 toward funeral expenses by Wednesday afternoon.
One of the Most Gruesome Cases Seen
“The significant amount of trauma that the child sustained… is what led to the charges of torture,” said Assistant Chief Brent Stratton of the Bakersfield Police Department. He added that this case is “one of the most significant” his investigators have ever handled.
No Bond, Next Hearing Scheduled
Both Mata and Bustamonte are being held without bail in the Kern County Jail. They pleaded not guilty to all charges in Kern County Superior Court on Tuesday and are scheduled to appear again on August 14 for a pre-preliminary hearing.
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