Violent Serial Rapes In Riverside County: DA Announces Update

INDIO, CA — A man believed to be a vicious serial rapist responsible for six attacks in the Coachella Valley area is in custody and facing multiple felony counts, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced during a Friday morning news conference.

Jose Manuel Martinez Garcia, 36, is charged with physically and/or sexually assaulting the six women between September 2020 to August 2021.

"The level of violence here is stunning," Hestrin said.

The charges against Garcia are four counts each of attempted murder and rape, as well as one count each of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, forcible sodomy, forced oral copulation and sexual penetration by force, with sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting multiple victims in a sex crime.

Garcia appeared at the Larson Justice Center on Friday afternoon where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was scheduled for a felony settlement conference on Feb. 15.

If convicted as currently charged, he faces a potential sentence of life in prison.

Garcia is a Mexican national who was living in Coachella. He previously lived in the Bakersfield area, according to Hestrin.

The attacks included three victims being strangled to unconsciousness and two incidents in which the victim was struck by the defendant's pickup. In one of those, the victim suffered a broken leg. She was left injured in a Thermal ditch for several days before being found and given medical help, according to the DA.

"She survived by the little bit of water that was running into the ditch and she was able to drink," the county's top prosecutor said, adding that she was located by a maintenance worker who happened to stop his vehicle where she was lying.

"This was a heinous crime and bad acts, but this is a good day. Charges have been filed against this individual, and he's in custody, off of the street," Indio Assistant Police Chief Chris Shaefer said. "We didn't know about this person before these violent acts started occurring. It shows people need to be vigilant when they're out and about."

According to Hestrin, it's possible Garcia knew several of the victims, but it was unclear to what extent. He said that the defendant generally approached the women late at night, in one of two pickup trucks — a silver Chevrolet Silverado or a white Dodge Ram.

Following a lengthy investigation into several violent sexual assaults, Indio police detectives and sheriff's investigators at the Thermal Station identified Garcia as the suspect. He was arrested on Oct. 5 and has been held in custody without bail since that date. The DA's Office filed charges involving four victims at that time, but detectives continued investigating Garcia's possible connection to other crimes.

On Friday, the DA's Office filed an amended criminal complaint charging Garcia with crimes involving two more victims, bringing the total to six.

All six of the victims were designated Jane Does in court documents to shield their identities. Hestrin said that they were all adults, with a wide age range, but wouldn't be more specific.

"All of the victims are recovering at various stages," Hestrin said.

He expressed confidence in the evidence that had been amassed, saying the investigation was "in-depth and thorough."

While six victims have been identified in the case, there may be more, according to investigators. Anyone with information about Garcia or who may have also been a victim is asked to contact Senior DA Investigator Claudia Herrera at 760-863-7809 or claudiaherrera@rivcoda.org