EVERETT, WA – A tragic series of events unfolded in Everett, Washington, as a four-year-old boy, Ariel Garcia, was reported missing on March 27, 2024, leading to the eventual arrest of his mother on charges of murder. The Everett Police Department reported that Ariel was last seen around 7 a.m. in an apartment on Vesper Drive.
Janet Garcia, Ariel’s mother, was apprehended in Vancouver, Washington, on Friday with the assistance of deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The Everett Police Department disclosed that Garcia would be transported to the Snohomish County Jail to face charges of first- and second-degree murder, as well as first-degree assault of a child.
The search for Ariel came to a tragic end when his body was discovered along Interstate 5 in Pierce County on Thursday. This discovery followed his mother’s arrest on Wednesday for allegedly providing false information to law enforcement. These charges were dropped to allow for her transfer to Snohomish County to face more severe felony charges.
Surveillance footage from 3Peaks Taphouse in Ridgefield, approximately 150 miles south of Everett, showed a vehicle of interest parked in the bar’s lot on Wednesday. Shortly after, an individual, believed to be a woman, was seen exiting the vehicle and walking away.
Court documents revealed that Janet Garcia was apprehended with blood-stained clothing while police were actively searching for her son. An arrest affidavit also alleged a significant amount of blood was found in the Everett apartment where Ariel resided with his mother.
In a chilling account, Garcia reportedly told investigators that Ariel had fallen and hit his head on the morning of his disappearance. She claimed to have attempted to take him to a hospital but left due to long waiting times, leaving him with a friend in Seattle instead. She then reportedly boarded a bus to Ridgefield, Washington, claiming ignorance of her son’s fate thereafter.
Court records indicate that Ariel’s grandmother had filed a petition for guardianship two days before his disappearance, citing concerns for his safety under his mother’s care. The grandmother, whose identity is being withheld, alleged that Ariel had become fearful of his mother due to her drug use and unpredictable behavior.