Elsa Garcia was taken from Baptist Children's Home in Valparaiso, IN by Baptist Minister Joseph and Evangeline Combs in 1978 at 4 months old. Raised as Esther Combs, she was never adopted, although believed she had been. She was sexually abused by Joseph Combs and beaten by Evangeline. Mrs. Combs beat her with a baseball bat, burned her with a curling iron and pulled out chunks of her flesh with pliers, causing more than 400 scars on her body. She was beaten with a hose. She was treated as a family servant and did not attend school or homeschool.
The Combs were arrested in 1998. Joseph Combs was sentenced to 114 years in prison for kidnapping, rape, assault and perjury. Evangeline Combs was sentenced to 65 years for kidnapping and child abuse.
Date: 1998-01-01
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes
Location
bristol, Tennessee
United States
| Document | Date |
|---|
| PrimeTime: A Tragic Case of Abuse | 2000-11-02 |
| COMBS FACES PERJURY CHARGES IN BROTHER'S KIDNAP-RAPE TRIAL | 2000-08-14 |
| WOMAN BEGINS NEW LIFE AFTER 20 YEARS OF ABUSE | 2000-08-12 |
| Couple sentenced for abusing girl they took from orphanage | 2000-04-25 |
| Experts say Esther Combs child-abuse case is unusual | 2000-04-09 |
| MINISTER, WIFE ABUSED ORPHANED GIRL, JURY FINDS | 2000-03-24 |
| Couple convicted of abusing girl they took from orphanage | 2000-03-24 |
| PASTOR, WIFE CLEARED OF 4 ABUSE CHARGES | 2000-03-23 |
| MINISTER'S TEARS FLOW IN DENIAL OF `DAUGHTER' ABUSE | 2000-03-22 |
| Trial of minister, wife continues | 2000-03-21 |
| CHILDREN TESTIFY TO SUPPORT PARENTS ACCUSED OF ABUSE | 2000-03-18 |
| SON SAYS PARENTS DID NOT ABUSE HIS `SISTER' | 2000-03-17 |
| JUDGE CALLS RECESS IN TENN. ABUSE TRIAL AGAINST MINISTER AND WIFE | 2000-03-09 |
| TESTIMONY BEGINS IN ABUSE TRIAL | 2000-03-03 |
| Former minister accused of kidnapping, rape back in jail | 1999-07-14 |
| JUDGE DELAYS KIDNAPPING, RAPE TRIAL AGAINST COUPLE | 1999-05-12 |
| COUPLE PLEAD INNOCENT TO 'SLAVE' CHARGES | 1998-12-15 |
| WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS A 'SLAVE' ABUSED BY EX-BAPTIST MINISTER | 1998-11-30 |
| MINISTERS SUPPORT COUPLE IN ALLEGED ABUSE CASE | 1998-11-26 |
| ADOPTIONS STILL OPEN TO ABUSE | 1998-11-22 |
| WOMAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST ADOPTION AGENCY | 1998-11-17 |
| POLICE SAY WOMAN BECAME 'FAMILY SLAVE' | 1998-11-14 |
| EX-PASTOR, WIFE SEEKING PRIVATE LEGAL COUNSEL; HEARING SET FOR NOV. 25 | 1998-11-14 |
| TENNESSEE EX-PASTOR, WIFE TIED TO ABUSE, CHILD SLAVERY | 1998-11-11 |
| PASTOR, WIFE CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE | 1998-11-08 |
| The Preacher Combs Trial | |