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Elsa Garcia aka Esther Alice Combs

public
1998 Jan 1
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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.

Documents

Title Publication date
PrimeTime: A Tragic Case of Abuse 2000 Nov 2
COMBS FACES PERJURY CHARGES IN BROTHER'S KIDNAP-RAPE TRIAL 2000 Aug 14
WOMAN BEGINS NEW LIFE AFTER 20 YEARS OF ABUSE 2000 Aug 12
Couple sentenced for abusing girl they took from orphanage 2000 Apr 25
Experts say Esther Combs child-abuse case is unusual 2000 Apr 9
Couple convicted of abusing girl they took from orphanage 2000 Mar 24
MINISTER, WIFE ABUSED ORPHANED GIRL, JURY FINDS 2000 Mar 24
PASTOR, WIFE CLEARED OF 4 ABUSE CHARGES 2000 Mar 23
MINISTER'S TEARS FLOW IN DENIAL OF `DAUGHTER' ABUSE 2000 Mar 22
Trial of minister, wife continues 2000 Mar 21
CHILDREN TESTIFY TO SUPPORT PARENTS ACCUSED OF ABUSE 2000 Mar 18
SON SAYS PARENTS DID NOT ABUSE HIS `SISTER' 2000 Mar 17
JUDGE CALLS RECESS IN TENN. ABUSE TRIAL AGAINST MINISTER AND WIFE 2000 Mar 9
TESTIMONY BEGINS IN ABUSE TRIAL 2000 Mar 3
Former minister accused of kidnapping, rape back in jail 1999 Jul 14
JUDGE DELAYS KIDNAPPING, RAPE TRIAL AGAINST COUPLE 1999 May 12
COUPLE PLEAD INNOCENT TO 'SLAVE' CHARGES 1998 Dec 15
WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS A 'SLAVE' ABUSED BY EX-BAPTIST MINISTER 1998 Nov 30
MINISTERS SUPPORT COUPLE IN ALLEGED ABUSE CASE 1998 Nov 26
ADOPTIONS STILL OPEN TO ABUSE 1998 Nov 22
WOMAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST ADOPTION AGENCY 1998 Nov 17
POLICE SAY WOMAN BECAME 'FAMILY SLAVE' 1998 Nov 14
EX-PASTOR, WIFE SEEKING PRIVATE LEGAL COUNSEL; HEARING SET FOR NOV. 25 1998 Nov 14
TENNESSEE EX-PASTOR, WIFE TIED TO ABUSE, CHILD SLAVERY 1998 Nov 11
PASTOR, WIFE CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE 1998 Nov 8
The Preacher Combs Trial