A 71-year-old Crestline woman is recovering from a brain injury, several broken bones and deep cuts after she was repeatedly beaten with a bat, all while her attacker remains on the loose.

Therese Garcia remains on the mend after a 26-year-old man beat her for hours with an aluminum baseball bat, according to the woman’s daughter. It all started after the man encountered Garcia while walking by her home.

Garcia, who enjoys sitting on her porch to converse with neighbors, was enjoying her day as usual when the man began to speak with her. The victim’s daughter said the man told Garcia that all of his belongings were stolen while camping. As a kind-hearted individual, Garcia invited the man to stay with her.

After about two weeks, the man began to take over the woman’s home, which prompted her to ask him to leave. In response, the man beat Garcia with a baseball bat in her sleep, her daughter told NBCLA.

Detectives say they are still looking for the man who attacked her. This video was broadcast during the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

“When she went to sleep that night, she just woke up to him beating her with a metal bat, and that went on for hours,” said Abbie Garcia, the victim’s daughter. “…She would lose consciousness and wake up a little bit. Every time she would wake up a little bit, he would come back and beat her again to the point where she finally lost consciousness fully.”

Abbie Garcia said the man stole her mother’s keys, phone and e-bike before taking off

Therese Garcia’s attacker was identified as 26-year-old Erik Eduardo Navarro of Orange County, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone who has seen Navarro or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact San Bernardino County officials at 909-890-4904.