How Teen Saved Himself, 3 Other Children From Mom Who Allegedly Planned to Drive Off Colorado Cliff

Jessica Dawn Garcia, 42, faces four counts of attempted vehicular homicide and four counts of child abuse after officers on March 30 allegedly found her white Ford Fiesta near the edge of a cliff at the Colorado National Monument, according to an arrest affidavit.
Mesa County Sheriff's Office

Jessica Dawn Garcia, 42, faces four counts of attempted vehicular homicide and four counts of child abuse after officers on March 30 allegedly found her white Ford Fiesta near the edge of a cliff at the Colorado National Monument.

A quick-thinking teen saved his life and those of three other children after jumping out of his mother’s moving car to call 911 because she allegedly planned to drive them off a Colorado cliff, authorities said.

Jessica Dawn Garcia, 42, faces four counts of attempted vehicular homicide and four counts of child abuse after officers on March 30 allegedly found her white Ford Fiesta near the edge of a cliff at the Colorado National Monument, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by People

Police with the Mesa County Sherriff’s Office were responding to a 911 call made by a 13-year-old boy who said he had jumped from the vehicle as it was moving because Garcia “was trying to kill them.” 

When officials arrived at the scene, they claimed the sedan was facing the wrong direction on the shoulder of the road and was only about 10 feet from the edge. 

Its “wheels were facing in the direction of the cliff” and tire marks were present “that suggested the car slammed on the brakes and slide forward, very close to the descent,” the affidavit read. 

In addition to the teen, three other children and two dogs were in the car, authorities said.

Cops said one of the children in the car told them at the scene that Garcia “thought the earth was ‘corrupt’ and she wanted to make sure they could all ‘go home.’”

Police said the child said they asked Garcia what she meant and Garcia allegedly said, “with Jesus.”

Garcia allegedly told police she “wasn’t going to push them off” and she wanted to leave with the children so they could read the Bible and talk, the affidavit reportedly said.

Garcia was transported to West Springs Hospital and is currently being held on a $5,000 cash-only bond. 

She is scheduled to appear in court April 16. 

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