Authorities are searching for a 26-year-old man accused of attacking the 71-year-old woman after she asked him to leave her home.
CRESTLINE, CA — A 71-year-old Crestline woman is recovering from severe injuries after authorities say a man she had allowed to stay in her home repeatedly struck her with a metal baseball bat before fleeing.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators identified the wanted man as Erik Eduardo Navarro, 26, of Orange County. Deputies were sent to a home in the 23900 block of Straight Way at about 6 a.m. Aug. 25 for a welfare check and found the woman badly injured inside. Authorities said the attack followed the woman’s request that Navarro leave the residence.
The victim was later publicly identified by her family as Therese Garcia. Sheriff’s officials said she suffered a cut to her forehead, an injured eyebrow, swollen hands and severe swelling around her eye that left her unable to see clearly. Her family told local news outlets that Garcia also suffered broken bones, a traumatic brain injury and bleeding in her brain.
Garcia’s daughter, Abbie Garcia, said her mother met Navarro after he approached her near her home and told her that his belongings had been stolen while he was camping. According to the family, he also said he had a job interview at a nearby hardware store. Garcia decided to help him by giving him a place to stay and providing meals.
Accounts differ on exactly how long Navarro stayed at the home before the attack. Sheriff’s information and some local reports said he had been staying there for about two weeks. Abbie Garcia told CBS Los Angeles that he was there for six days. The family said his behavior became increasingly demanding and that Garcia eventually told him he needed to leave.
Abbie Garcia told reporters that her mother was sleeping on a couch when the attack began. She said the beating continued over an extended period as her mother repeatedly lost consciousness. Sheriff’s officials have separately said Garcia was struck multiple times with a metal baseball bat. The family’s account of the length and sequence of the attack has not been independently established in court.
Family members said Navarro left the home with several of Garcia’s belongings, including her phone, keys and electric bicycle. CBS Los Angeles also reported that relatives said credit cards were taken. Investigators have described Navarro as a suspect and continued seeking him after the attack. No court finding has established his guilt.
Neighbors helped bring authorities to the home by requesting the welfare check, according to family accounts. Garcia was taken for medical treatment and remained hospitalized as her relatives described a difficult recovery. By the first week of September, her condition had stabilized, according to her family, although she was still dealing with significant injuries and could require additional treatment.
The case drew wider attention after Garcia’s family described how she had taken Navarro in because she believed he needed help. Her daughter characterized her as someone who regularly spoke with neighbors and tried to assist people who were struggling. Investigators have not publicly confirmed Navarro’s account about being robbed while camping or the reported job interview that family members said preceded Garcia’s decision to let him stay.
As of the latest reports reviewed through Sept. 6, authorities were still seeking Navarro. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact investigators at the Twin Peaks station. No arrest had been announced in the most recent reporting on the case.
Author note: Last updated September 6, 2026.