Washington mom charged with murder, accused of stabbing son repeatedly pleads not guilty

A Washington woman has pled not guilty in the fatal stabbing of her 4-year-old son, whose abandoned body was found on March 28 wrapped in a Christmas blanket off Interstate 5.

Janet Garcia, 27, from Everett, Washington, who was arrested March 29, has been charged with first-degree murder, domestic violence with a deadly weapon, and aggravated domestic violence with the circumstance of a vulnerable victim. She is being held on $3 million bond after pleading not guilty in a court appearance April 22, according to Snohomish County Superior court records.

After her 4-year-old son Ariel Garcia was reported missing on March 27, 2024, the Everett Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began a two-day search for the boy. His body was found March 28 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Prosecutors say the boy had been stabbed "dozens of separate times," while an autopsy revealed "at least 41 sharp-force injuries," according to an affidavit filed April 19.

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Custody battle over 4-year-old boy

Janet Garcia's mother had been attempting to get custody of Ariel Garcia. She already had custody of Janet Garcia's 7-year-old son, court documents show.

On March 27, Maria Garcia, the mother, and her grandson, Janet Garcia's other son, had gone to the apartment where Janet Garcia and Ariel Garcia had been staying, to show guardianship papers granting Maria Garcia custody of both boys and the notice of a hearing, the documents show.

In her petition for guardianship of Ariel Garcia, Maria Garcia "indicated the Defendant was a threat to (Ariel) because her drug and alcohol abuse had recently worsened, and she was not a stable parent … (and) left (the boys without) supervision," according to court documents.

Garcia had blood on her, hid her son's body in trunk: Prosecutors

At the apartment, Maria Garcia told police she saw blood in the apartment but her daughter and grandson were not there. Police also found blood there during the investigation.

When officers with the Clark County Sheriff's Office arrested Janet Garcia, they found blood on her shirt and shoes. Garcia told the officers she had been arguing with her mother about taking her other son.

Prosecutors allege Janet Garcia concealed Ariel Garcia's body "in a blanket and then secreted him away in her trunk. The defendant drove to multiple locations after killing (him) and eventually dumped his body near the freeway in another jurisdiction."

Investigators have not found a murder weapon, according to the affidavit.

Trial date set for Janet Garcia

The court dropped Garcia's bail from $5 million to $3 million after public defenders asked that it be dropped to $500,000. Prosecutors argued there's a "real possibility" Garcia would not appear for court dates.

A trial date is scheduled for June 7.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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