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Two Texas sisters accused of physically restraining, beating and enslaving a 12-year-old girl — who investigators say had helped her escape a previous abusive situation — have been indicted on federal charges, court records show.
Tania Evette Garcia37 and Brenda Mariana Garcia39, both were charged with one count kidnapping and one count of forced labor.the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced in a press release on Monday, February 9.
Brenda’s federal defense attorney, Guy Lee Womackdid not return immediately US Weekly Request for comment. Tania’s federal defense attorney did not immediately appear in court records us Tuesday, February 10th.
Before federal case, sisters from Conroe first Arrested by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office State charges were filed after deputies said they received a call from a 12-year-old girl who said she had been physically and sexually abused, according to an Oct. 6 news release from the agency.
An affidavit in support of a federal criminal complaint reveals details of how Tania and Brenda are accused of severely abusing the girl, who was found walking alone on a street in Splendor, Texas, on Sept. 28 seeking help, according to investigators.
A witness found the girl “malnourished, injured and wearing a zip tie around her wrist” that day. Affidavit explain.
The girl told a Montgomery County deputy that she had just escaped from Brenda and Tania’s home, where she had been beaten by the sisters for the past six months, the affidavit said.
A girl who was reported missing from Texas by her mother more than four years ago has been found safe in Mexico after her father was accused of kidnapping him there, Us Weekly reports. On January 20, U.S. Marshals “safely recovered” the 12-year-old boy in Mexico and has since been reunited with (…)
During a forensic interview, the girl said she had been living with her uncle before she was allegedly abused by the sisters, the affidavit said.
In March 2025, the girl told a family friend – Brenda’s daughter – that her uncle had sexually abused her since she was 6 years old, documents show.
Brenda, Brenda’s daughter and Tania then worked together “to remove the girl from her uncle’s home after obtaining photographic evidence of the abuse,” the affidavit states.
The girl began living with Brenda and Tanya later that month, according to the affidavit.
About two months later, in May 2025, Brenda took her to a meeting with a Harris County deputy to discuss the alleged sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her uncle and another relative, the affidavit states.
Her uncle is accused of serially assaulting a child in Harris County, according to authorities.
More information about his criminal case was not immediately available. It’s unclear whether he has retained a lawyer.
In May 2025, after Brenda took the girl to talk to an officer, the girl said Brenda “hit her for the first time because, according to Brenda Garcia, (she) ‘contradicted’ her statements to the officer,” the affidavit states.
After the girl reported the incident, Brenda allegedly told a Child Protective Services case worker that the girl was “sent back to Honduras,” where the girl’s mother lived, according to the affidavit.
Brenda “then told (the girl) that no one would be looking for her now,” the affidavit states.
The girl told investigators that over the next few months she was repeatedly abused by Brenda and her sister and given little food to eat, documents show.
She “reported that both Brenda and Tania beat her with cords, laptop chargers, canes and sticks” and they are accused of “forcing her to strip naked during many of the beatings.”
The sisters are accused of filming and filming the abuse.
The girl also told investigators that she was frequently zip-tied and had to do extensive chores as a form of punishment, according to the affidavit.
“In short, Brenda and Tania Garcia treated (her) as a slave and forced her to work inside and outside the residence, cleaning and maintaining livestock and property,” the affidavit states.
Federal prosecutors have said the two women face the possibility of life in prison if convicted in the federal case.
Defense attorneys representing Tania and Brenda in the state criminal case did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, please call or text Children’s Helpline Phone: 1-800-422-4453.
