Utah Man Allegedly Held His Girlfriend and Her Family Hostage for 6 Months, Claiming He Protected Them from a ‘Cartel’

A 23-year-old man was arrested on 28 charges after he allegedly terrorized a Millcreek, Utah, family for nearly six months, according to the affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

Dominic Garcia was booked in Salt Lake County Jail on Saturday, May 17, for 28 total alleged offenses, including seven counts of aggravated assault, seven counts of aggravated kidnapping, seven counts of threat of violence, and seven counts of hazing involving the use of a dangerous weapon, per the court documents.

Greater Salt Lake police officers responded to a call from a Millcreek home that a man and his six family members had been held against their will by their pregnant daughter’s boyfriend, Garcia. The complainant, referred to as “RS” in the affidavit, told authorities that they were holding Garcia at gunpoint because they “weren’t able to take it any longer.”

Upon the authorities’ arrival, they found Garcia at gunpoint. He was taken into custody without incident. The family was then interviewed by detectives.

Garcia began living with the family in December 2024, after the family allegedly allowed him to move into their home. Garcia told the family, “almost immediately,” that his family was part of a business with ties to a cartel. He said for the family “to stay on the cartel’s good side,” they had to do what Garcia said, per the affidavit. 

Allegedly, Garcia “repeatedly told them the cartel would kill them if they did not do what they were told.” RS bought a handgun out of protection, and then Garcia began carrying around the home, ultimately intimidating the family.

Then, one day, Garcia allegedly said that his family had made a bad deal, and he and the victims had to leave the home for over a month. But once they returned, one of the family members referred to as “HS,” texted a friend explaining their disappearance. Garcia saw the text and immediately responded by threatening to kill the family if they stepped out of line. 

Garcia then allegedly forced HS into a “boot camp,” which included five workouts a day at any hour of the day. HS was also forced to do ice baths and made to hold her face underwater to the point of being unable to breathe.

Also, as a result, he allegedly monitored the family members’ phones and limited who could leave the home, and for a maximum of two hours per person. 

Another family member, referred to as AS, told authorities that she only left home three times after they returned from their month-long disappearance. She was also told to stand guard until 5:30 a.m. every night. 

Seventeen-year-old family member, “TS,” missed a month of her senior year of high school and “was extremely scared and believed her life was in danger.” 

Garcia’s pregnant girlfriend, “KS,” said Garcia made threats to kill her and her family on “numerous occasions.” Garcia also “choked out their pet dogs on occasions when he became upset and had been violent towards her sister HS.”

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After his arrest and being informed of his Miranda rights, Garcia admitted to carrying the gun, putting HS through the boot camp and that all the claims about the cartel were lies. He said he “did not know how to stop it in fear that they would not like him.” 

Garcia is currently being held without bail.

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The affidavit included arguments for felony charges to be filed and claimed Garcia is a flight risk and could flee to his family in Mexico.

The affidavit states that the family believes Garcia “is still a danger to them and will come after them if he is let out of jail,” and multiple family members believe there’s still a chance the cartel could kill them.