In Austin, Texas, a woman was reportedly held captive, mistreated, and deprived of food for several months in a yard by acquaintances who allegedly decided they no longer wanted her around, as detailed by police reports.

Authorities apprehended five individuals on October 30 after a distress call led officers to a scene where a woman was found restrained and crying for help in the backyard of a residence. This information comes from an official statement released by the Austin Police Department.

Those taken into custody include Michelle Garcia, 51; Crystal Garcia, 21; Mache Carney, 32; Juan Pablo Castro, 30; and Maynard Lefevers, 21. They face serious charges such as aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, injury to an elderly or disabled person, and unlawful restraint, all linked to the alleged mistreatment.

Woman Told Police She “Was Not Allowed To Leave”

Police officers responded at 9:09 a.m. on October 30 and discovered the woman, partially unclothed and visibly distressed, handcuffed to an exercise apparatus.

The police report notes that the woman informed officers she had been confined at the location for a number of months and was not permitted to leave during that time.

The officers attempted to free the woman, who had injuries including open wounds, swollen wrists and missing flesh from her hands and feet, but had to call for assistance from the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services to cut through “heavy metal links” to secure her release, police said in the statement.

As they were working, officers noticed multiple people trying to leave the house and took them into custody. They also found three children inside the property, who were placed into the care of Child Protective Services, authorities said.

The victim told investigators that she had been friends with one of the women, however, the group decided one day that “they didn’t like her anymore and no longer allowed her to leave,” according to an affidavit viewed by the Austin American-Statesman.

Victim Suffers Months of Abuse, Police Say

For months, police said the victim was restrained, starved and repeatedly shot with a BB gun, leaving her with scars all over her body, per the affidavit. Scans at the hospital later showed one BB still lodged in her right eye.

Several suspects admitted to keeping her “restrained” outside, according to the affidavit. Michelle Garcia allegedly told police they began handcuffing the woman in the yard because the victim often relieved herself there and Michelle Garcia didn’t want her neighbors to see. Others reportedly claimed the restraints were to keep the woman, who they said suffered from mental health issues, from stealing from the neighbors, the affidavit alleged.

Police said the victim was given just one plate of food to eat a day and appeared malnourished when she was rescued, despite Michelle Garcia’s claims that they adopted the diet because the woman was getting “chunky,” according to the court records obtained by the Austin American-Statesman.

Castro, who is Carney’s husband and Michelle Garcia’s son-in-law, also allegedly confessed to chasing the woman around the yard and shooting her with BB gun pellets after getting home from work, adding that he got an electric rifle-style gun because he didn’t want to touch her, according to the affidavit.

When asked why he shot the woman, he allegedly replied “I [expletive] hate her,” authorities said in the court records.

One of the children living in the home also told investigators during an interview that Castro shot the victim whenever she was “bad.” 

Michelle Garcia and Carney—who both have court appointed attorneys—are expected to appear for separate court dates later this month. Crystal Garcia, Castro and Lefevers are still waiting for their next court date, according to The Austin-American Statesman.

Its unclear whether any have entered pleas yet to the charges against them.