Crestline Grandmother Beaten with Bat by Stranded Stranger She Helped

A 71-year-old Crestline grandmother was nearly beaten to death with a metal baseball bat inside her home by a younger man she had taken in after he claimed he was robbed, according to authorities and family members.

Crestline Grandmother Brutally Attacked After Welcoming Stranded Stranger

Therese Garcia, described by her relatives as a kind-hearted woman who always tried to help others, welcomed 26-year-old Erik Eduardo Navarro into her residence. Navarro had approached the grandmother stating that his belongings had been stolen while he was camping and that he needed a place to stay ahead of an upcoming job interview at a local hardware store.

Family members stated that Garcia cooked for him every night, believing he was a sweet kid down on his luck. However, her opinion changed after several days as Navarro allegedly grew demanding and slowly took over her home.

The Escalation and Brutal Assault

After Navarro stayed in the residence, tensions mounted. Family members noted that after several days, Navarro began making demands and failed to help with agreements made initially.

When Garcia finally told Navarro to leave, the situation turned violent. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office and family accounts, Navarro waited until Garcia was sleeping on the couch on August 25 before launching a severe assault with a metal baseball bat.

Relatives shared that the beating lasted for hours. According to the family’s GoFundMe account details reported by the New York Post, Navarro would stop only when Garcia lost consciousness, and would resume beating her every time she woke up, continuing until he apparently believed she was dead. Before fleeing the scene, Navarro stole her phone, credit cards, keys, and e-bike.

Hospitalization and Ongoing Investigation

Neighbors eventually requested a welfare check, leading deputies to discover Garcia with significant injuries to her hands and face. Family members believe she would have bled to death without her neighbors’ intervention.

Garcia was hospitalized with severe trauma. Her medical treatment included addressing:

• A traumatic brain injury and a brain bleed
• Multiple broken bones in her arm, hand, and face
• Severe head and facial injuries, along with deep lacerations requiring extensive stitches
• Days of vomiting blood and ongoing extreme dizziness, pain, and exhaustion

While her condition has stabilized over recent weeks and she is taking small steps, her family notes she remains in immense pain and may require facial surgery once swelling subsides. Because Garcia lacks health insurance, her family established a CBS News-highlighted GoFundMe campaign to assist with mounting hospital bills, potential surgical costs, and follow-up care.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department considers Navarro a suspect in the incident, which is being treated as a Battery with Serious Bodily Injury, and deputies are actively searching for him. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding Navarro’s whereabouts or the case to contact the Twin Peaks Station at [phone]. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling or texting “REPORT” to We-Tip at [phone] or online via the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department website.