Crestline, California — A 26-year-old man accused of brutally attacking a 71-year-old woman with a metal baseball bat after she offered him a place to stay has been arrested following a weeks-long search that led investigators from Southern California to Oklahoma.
Erik Eduardo Navarro, of Orange County, had been sought since late August in connection with the alleged assault on Therese Garcia at her home in Crestline. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, detectives located him in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, where he had been incarcerated on separate traffic charges.
Authorities brought Navarro back to San Bernardino County on October 27, 2026. He now faces multiple charges related to the alleged attack and the theft of Garcia’s belongings.
Woman Offered Help to a Stranger in Need
According to the account provided by Garcia’s family, the incident began when Therese spotted Navarro walking in her neighborhood and heard his story about losing his belongings while camping nearby.
The 71-year-old woman sympathized with him and agreed to let him stay at her home temporarily.
Her daughter, Abbie Garcia, said her mother believed Navarro was a “sweet kid” who had fallen on hard times and needed assistance. During his stay, Therese reportedly cared for him and cooked dinner for him every night.
However, the situation allegedly changed after Navarro had been staying in the house for six days. According to the family’s account, he began making demands and gradually taking over the home.
Therese eventually told him that it was time to leave.
Authorities Say Woman Was Attacked While Sleeping
Later that night, Navarro allegedly waited until Therese had fallen asleep on the couch before attacking her with a metal baseball bat, authorities said.
According to the account shared by her daughter, Therese repeatedly lost consciousness during the alleged assault. When she regained consciousness, the beating reportedly continued.
The attack allegedly lasted for hours before Navarro left the home, believing the woman was dead, Abbie said.
Investigators said Navarro then took several of Therese’s belongings, including her phone, credit cards, keys and electric bicycle, before fleeing the property.
The allegations describe a violent attack inside the home of a woman who had initially welcomed the suspect because she believed he needed help.
Neighbors Called Police for a Welfare Check
On August 25, neighbors contacted authorities to request a welfare check on Therese.
When deputies entered the home, they found her suffering from severe head and facial injuries, along with a traumatic brain injury. She had also sustained broken bones and serious injuries to her eyes, arm and hand.
Her daughter said the neighbors’ decision to contact authorities may have saved her mother’s life.
“If it weren’t for the neighbors calling the police, my mother would have bled to death alone in her home,” Abbie said.
The severity of Therese’s injuries left her family facing a difficult recovery process. Her loved ones said she had a long road ahead but expressed gratitude that she survived the attack.
Search for Suspect Led Investigators to Oklahoma
After the incident, Navarro remained at large while San Bernardino County investigators continued searching for him and sought assistance from the public.
Detectives eventually received information indicating that Navarro was in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, where he had been detained on unrelated traffic charges.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said detectives coordinated with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office to obtain an extradition warrant.
On October 27, detectives traveled to Oklahoma, took custody of Navarro and transported him back to San Bernardino County.
He was subsequently booked into the West Valley Detention Center pending prosecution.
Charges Filed in the Alleged Attack
Navarro faces the following charges, according to the information released by authorities:
- Battery with serious injury
- Elder abuse likely to produce great bodily injury or death
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Robbery
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The charges stem from the alleged attack on Therese and the reported theft of her belongings. The allegations remain subject to the legal process, and the charges are not proof of guilt.
Authorities have not provided additional details about the next court proceedings in the information supplied.
Family Says Recovery Remains a Long Road
Despite the severity of the injuries, Therese’s loved ones are grateful that she survived. Her daughter said the attack was especially painful because her mother had offered help to someone she believed was in need.
“My mom didn’t deserve this,” Abbie said. “She was simply trying to help someone she believed was in need, something she has always done throughout her life. This time, her kindness was met with unimaginable violence.”
The case has also highlighted the importance of neighbors checking on people when something appears wrong. In this incident, the welfare check led deputies to Therese when she was seriously injured inside her home.
Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Twin Peaks Station at 909-336-0660.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to We-Tip by calling 844-909-3006, texting “REPORT” to 844-909-3006, or visiting wetip.com.
What are your thoughts on this case? Share your views in the comments, and remember how important it can be to check on neighbors who may need help.
