A night of terror ends on Plateau
Published 1:09 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008
Dennis Box
The Courier-Herald
A Lincoln Towncar sped down the Sumner-Buckley Highway sometime after midnight July 14.
Inside the car were Genaro Garcia, 24 years old, and Antigone Allen, 18. Strapped into the backseat were their three children, Christine, a 2 1/2-year-old girl, Kristian, a 1 1/2-year-old boy and Adam, a 6-month-old boy.
They were from the South Hill area of Puyallup, and within a few hours all five would be dead in a crime beyond comprehension.
What is known to investigators is that Garcia had gasoline and a semi-automatic pistol in the car.
The couple had a long history of problems with domestic violence and both had been arrested in the past.
They had been living apart for at least a month and the meeting was an attempt at reconciliation, according to authorities.
At some point during the drive, Garcia doused the children and Allen with gasoline and pulled out a lighter.
In the area of Sumner-Buckley Highway and 258th Avenue East, the speeding car erupted in flames, veered off the road and rolled, trapping the children in the backseat.
Allen, on fire, ran from the car across a field.
Garcia, also burning, chased her and shot at her before falling 50 yards from the wreck, dead.
Allen made it to a nearby house and lived long enough to tell investigators her story.
She died in the morning hours at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The King County Medical Examiner stated the cause of death for Allen was thermal injuries to more than 90 percent of her body. The manner of death was homicide.
Garcia's cause of death according to the examiner was thermal injuries to 95 percent of his body, blunt impact of the torso with visceral lacerations. The manner of death was suicide.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner stated the cause of death in all three children was smoke inhalation.
"She was not shot," said Ed Troyer, the Pierce County Sheriff's public information officer. "We found the gun jammed a few yards from Garcia's body."
Investigator believe Garcia may have been using drugs during the drive, but the King County Medical Examiner's office reported the toxicology report would take several weeks.
It is known that Allen was provided with information about domestic violence shortly before her death.
"There was no protection order or restraining order against Garcia," Troyer said. "Detective (Elizabeth) Lindt from our domestic violence unit contacted her (Allen) the day it happened. She said she didn't want our help. She said Garcia had moved out and was living with his brother, and that they would be moving to California very soon. We made every effort on our part to give her the resources to get help."
The facts of the case add up to more questions and few answers. Allen had her first child at 15. Garcia was violent and threatening at times towards her.
"This is very difficult because it feels like a failure," said Ardith DeRaad of the Alliance Against Domestic Violence. "You can't help but wonder if there was a way to have done something. I have grandchildren. This is very hard. People that get into a relationship don't want to break it up. Victims are very optimistic people. They want to believe the beating will stop."
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald
