Public Sends Money to Inmate Accused of Assaulting a Woman Charged with Torturing and Killing an 8-Year-Old Girl By Toria Sheffield

A California inmate allegedly assaulted Graciela Bustamante — the woman recently charged with torturing and killing her 8-year-old stepdaughter — in jail. Following the assault, the public has sent the inmate money to show their support for her actions.

Anita Doran, 36, allegedly attacked Bustamante, 27, inside the Lerdo Correctional Facility in Bakersfield, Calif., on Aug. 8, local news outlet KBAK reported, citing the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).

Bustamante was hospitalized after the alleged incident, but has since returned to the jail, according to authorities, the outlet said.

PEOPLE reached out to the KCSO for comment on Saturday, Aug. 16, but did not receive an immediate response.

Bustamante, as well as her husband, Ray Mata Jr., were charged with the murder of Mata’s young daughter, Genesis Ariah Mata, after she was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Bakersfield on Aug. 2, according to Fox 10, KBTX and KBAK.

The girl was allegedly burned with hot water, beaten and whipped, according to the outlets, which cited probable cause documents from local police.

Per the outlets, police alleged in the documents that the couple repeatedly slammed the girl’s fingers in a door frame, crushing her hand and causing her fingernails to separate from her hand. 

Genesis was found with massive blisters and burns on her face and across her body, police allege, according to Fox 10.

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“When you’re faced with someone that’s gross and has no remorse, you kind of don’t want to deal with it because you don’t want to take it to where you want to take it,” Doron said while speaking to local news outlet KBAK after the alleged in-custody assault. 

“I would definitely do this again,” she added.

Doron went on to tell the outlet that she and her fellow inmates were aware of the charges against Bustamante, and that they generally tried to keep their distance.

“No one really wanted to deal with her,” Doron said. “Some of the girls had seen her not taking it [her case] too seriously. She had come back from court, and she was laughing and giggling and stuff, and they were just like, ‘Why, what’s funny?’ ”

In a video interview with ABC 23 following the incident, Doran additionally said that the charges against Bustamante hit close to home. 

“I have a cousin named Genesis. A little cousin — she’s 10,” the inmate said.

Doran’s jail commissary account was flooded with donations after her name became public following the alleged assault on Bustamante, per KGET. As of Friday, Aug. 15, funds could no longer be accepted, as the account had “reached the maximum number of transactions allowed,” according to the outlet.

Officials said that charges are pending against Doron for the recent alleged assault, per KGET. Doran is currently in jail for charges related to evading an officer and stealing a vehicle, according to public arrest records. 

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.