71-Year-Old Grandmother Survives Brutal Baseball Bat Attack by Guest

Therese Garcia, a 71-year-old resident of Crestline, invited 26-year-old Erik Eduardo Navarro into her home after he said his possessions had been stolen and he needed shelter before a job interview. Over two weeks she provided meals and grew to trust him, but Navarro began demanding control of the house. When Garcia asked him to leave on Aug. 25, he retrieved a metal baseball bat and repeatedly struck her as she slept, continuing for hours until she lost consciousness.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department reports she suffered a forehead laceration, cut eyebrow, swollen hands and orbital area, and may require facial surgery. She is currently in a hospital, medically stable but in pain and dizzy, and lacks health insurance. Navarro fled the scene; police have released his photo and are urging tips. A GoFundMe campaign seeks donations for Garcia’s recovery.