A San Antonio man was arrested after his disabled daughter was found alone in their apartment, suffering from severe malnutrition and a black eye, according to authorities. Edwin William Dones Garcia is now charged with injury to disabled.
Local high school staff became alarmed after the victim, a Special Education Student at James Madison High School, appeared malnourished and her feeding tube was clogged, prompting them to contact Adult Protective Services, as reported by KENS 5. The subsequent welfare checks by the SAPD and Adult Protective Services on February 15 revealed a dire situation.
Garcia, who is the sole caregiver for his 20-year-old daughter diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and non-verbal due to her condition, was absent when officers managed to enter the apartment on the second check, finding the victim alone with an evident injury to her eye. The girl was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors also diagnosed her with sepsis, gastrointestinal issues, and determined she was in a state of severe malnutrition, according to KSAT.
In a disturbing twist, Garcia later communicated with an Adult Protective Services worker via text, claiming his daughter's black eye was caused by the rats in the apartment, rather than providing an explanation for her overall medical neglect. He was arrested on Friday, and court documents reveal that a bond has been set at $75,000. This troubling case raises concerns regarding the safety and well-being of the city's most vulnerable citizens and the systems in place to protect them.
