Inset: Genesis A. Mata (GoFundMe). Background: The hotel where Genesis’ dad and stepmom allegedly tortured and killed her (KGET).
A 31-year-old father and a 27-year-old stepmother in California are accused of torturing their 8-year-old daughter to death, allegedly pouring scalding hot water over the child’s skin and crushing her hands before she was eventually beaten to death.
Ray Mata Jr. and Graciela Bustamonte were both taken into custody over the weekend and charged with a spate of felonies, including one count each of first-degree murder in the horrific slaying of Genesis A. Mata, records show.
According to the Bakersfield Police Department, officers at about 5:37 p.m. on Saturday responded to the La Quinta Inn in the 3200 block of Riverside Drive in regard to a reported medical emergency involving an unresponsive child in a bathtub. The caller allegedly said they learned from someone else that the child may be in danger.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they knocked on the bathroom door, but received no response from behind the locked door. Police forced the door open where they found the unresponsive 8-year-old girl, later identified as Genesis.
Genesis was pronounced dead on the scene with authorities noting that she had suffered visible signs of “substantial trauma.”
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Bakersfield CBS affiliate KBAK provided additional details about the circumstances authorities believe led to Genesis’ death.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox
According to the report, authorities wrote in the affidavit that Mata and Bustamonte had spent two days “working in tandem” to repeatedly torture Genesis in numerous ways, including pouring hot water directly onto her skin, resulting in severe burns.
They couple also allegedly smashed the victim’s hands so badly that her fingernails came off.
“Cases like this are especially tragic, especially when you’re dealing with juvenile victims and some of the most innocent in our community,” Bakersfield Police Assistance Chief Brent Stratton told Bakersfield dual NBC/CW affiliate KGET. “The significant amount of trauma that the child sustained, and was subjected to is what lead to the charges of torture. With our investigators saying this being one of the most significant cases they’ve ever seen.”
The investigation led to the arrests of Mata and Bustamonte Sunday morning. They appeared in Kent County Superior Court on Tuesday where both pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Police reportedly said Mata ultimately admitted that he punched Genesis in the stomach, which led directly to her losing consciousness and dying. Bustamonte allegedly admitted to taking part in multiple torturous acts that led to her stepdaughter’s death.
Genesis’ cousin, Sabrina Guerrero, attended the proceedings where she told local ABC affiliate KERO that multiple family members had reported Mata and Bustamonte to Child Protective Services, saying there were “big time” signs the child was being abused and that “the system failed” her little cousin.
A GoFundMe page started by another cousin said that Genesis was “full of life, had a beautiful spirit, and loved anything that sparkled.” The page had raised close to $4,000 of its $20,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon.
Mata and Bustamonte are both being held in the Kern County Jail without bond and are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 14 for pre-preliminary hearings, records show.
