Utah Man Accused of Holding Girlfriend’s Family Hostage for 6 Months with Fake Cartel Threats

A man in Utah is facing multiple assault and kidnapping charges after he held his girlfriend and her family hostage for about six months under the false pretense that members of "the cartel" were after them.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

A 23-year-old Utah man has been arrested after allegedly keeping his pregnant girlfriend and her family hostage for nearly six months by convincing them that a violent cartel was out to kill them.

Dominic Garcia faces 28 criminal charges, most of them felonies, including aggravated kidnapping, assault, and threats of violence. According to police, Garcia fabricated a story that members of a Mexican cartel were targeting the family and manipulated them into extreme behavior under the constant threat of death.

Family Lived in Fear of Imaginary Cartel

The ordeal began in December when the family allowed Garcia to move into their Millcreek home because he was dating their daughter. Shortly after, Garcia claimed his family had ties to a cartel and insisted they follow strict safety precautions. Police say he frequently brandished a gun and warned the family they would be killed if they didn’t obey his demands.

The family was so terrified that they left their home for a month at Garcia’s instruction. When they returned, Garcia continued controlling them, limiting their movement, monitoring their communication, and enforcing punishments.

Victims Faced Abuse, Surveillance, and Isolation

One family member was forced into a “boot camp” with 5 daily workouts and ice baths. She also said Garcia held her face underwater and threatened her life for contacting a friend. Another relative, a 17-year-old girl, missed much of her senior year of high school due to Garcia’s fabricated threats.

Family members told police they rarely left the house and were instructed to take turns keeping watch through the night. One person said she had only been outside three times since returning from hiding.

Suspect Admits It Was All a Lie

When police arrested Garcia on Saturday, the family was holding him at gunpoint, saying they could no longer live in fear. Officers say Garcia confessed that the cartel story was entirely false. He told investigators he didn’t know how to stop the lie because he feared the family would turn against him.

Garcia is being held in Salt Lake County Jail. Police believe additional charges may follow as they continue interviewing the victims. The family remains traumatized, with officers noting several members cried in fear that Garcia might be released.

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