Utah man Dominic Garcia exploited fake cartel threats to terrorize and control his pregnant girlfriend’s family for six months, subjecting them to “boot camp” discipline and forcing them to flee their home until one brave family member finally called police.
Key Takeaways
- Dominic Garcia, 23, faces 28 criminal counts including kidnapping and assault after allegedly holding his pregnant girlfriend’s family hostage for six months using fabricated cartel threats
- Garcia forced the family to leave their home for a month, subjected them to strict “boot camp” regimens including ice baths, and monitored their movements while armed with a handgun
- The situation ended when a family member contacted police, who arrived to find the family holding Garcia at gunpoint
- Garcia admitted to inventing the entire cartel threat scenario because he feared losing the family’s approval if he told the truth
- He is being held without bail as authorities consider him a flight risk due to family connections in Mexico
Six-Month Reign of Terror Through Deception
Dominic Garcia, 23, moved in with his pregnant girlfriend’s family in December, bringing with him a sinister web of lies that would entrap the family for half a year. According to court documents, Garcia spun an elaborate tale about his family’s dangerous cartel connections, claiming that these criminal organizations were actively hunting them due to a bad deal supposedly made by his grandfather’s business. This fabricated threat became the foundation for Garcia’s complete control over the household.
“The family has lived in constant fear of Dominic and the people Dominic has led them to believe were trying to kill them for approximately 6 months,” police stated in their report.
Investigators described how Garcia convinced the family they were in imminent danger, forcing them to abandon their home for an entire month while constantly moving between hotels. He maintained strict surveillance over all family members, restricting their communications and creating a climate of perpetual fear. The situation escalated to the point where a 17-year-old family member was prevented from attending school, supposedly for safety reasons.
Military-Style Control and Physical Threats
Garcia’s psychological manipulation quickly evolved into physical intimidation. Court documents reveal he carried a handgun at all times, which he used to threaten family members who questioned his authority. In one particularly disturbing incident, Garcia allegedly forced a female family member into a boot camp regimen that included ice baths as punishment for perceived disobedience. This militant discipline became part of the daily reality for the terrorized family.
“RS said Dominic repeatedly told them the cartel would kill them if they did not do what they were told,” police reported in court documents.
“Over time, Garcia created an atmosphere of fear and control, falsely creating affiliations with a dangerous cartel,” said Sgt. Aymee Race of the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, also stating “He claimed ‘his people’ were watching and any defiance could result in their deaths.”
The Breaking Point and Arrest
The family’s nightmare finally ended when one of the victims found the courage to contact police, reporting that they were being held against their will. When officers arrived at the residence, they discovered a scene of chaos—the family had managed to disarm Garcia and was holding him at gunpoint. This dramatic reversal of power came after months of psychological warfare and demonstrates how quickly victims can regain their agency when the spell of manipulation is broken.
Once in custody, Garcia made a shocking admission to investigators. “Dominic said that he continued this lie for several months because he did not know how to stop it in fear that they would not like him,” police noted in their report.
Garcia now faces 28 criminal counts, including seven counts each of kidnapping and aggravated assault, along with hazing and threats of violence. Authorities consider him a significant flight risk due to family connections in Mexico and have denied bail. Even more troubling, reports indicate the family continues to live in fear, still partially believing Garcia’s lies about potential cartel retaliation despite his confession that the entire threat was fabricated.
