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BY GINA CZARK
Times Staff Writer | Friday, November 14, 2003 | (No comments posted.)
It has been four days since her mother was arrested for allegedly killing her father, and Christal Cummings can't understand why her adopted sister is not in jail.
While her mother, Barbara, is in jail on a murder charge, Tammy Garcia has not been arrested or charged, even though she has been accused of assisting her mother in covering up the death. Tammy Garcia, according to court documents, did not report her father's death to police and helped her mother load his body into a truck. Barbara Garcia later dumped her husband's body in Illinois, police said.
While Cummings admits she wasn't very close to her mother, she said the case is still shocking. The only way she said she and her family can have closure is if her mother and sister are punished.
"I just want to see both of them behind bars for the rest of my life," Cummings said.
Barbara Garcia, 61, is charged with murdering her 71-year-old husband, Cipriano Garcia, on Oct. 30 by injecting his body with 10 shots of insulin. While his body lay in the garage, Garcia handed out Halloween candy, had her hair done and went to a poker game, according to police and family reports.
Cummings met Thursday with Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. She said other family members have also met with him in the past couple of days to find out why Tammy Garcia has not been arrested and charged in connection with the crime.
Although Barbara Garcia was arrested Monday afternoon, Carter said his office is still reviewing the case and the possibility of filing charges against her daughter, Tammy Garcia.
Tammy Garcia did not return telephone calls seeking comment Thursday. She is Barbara Garcia's biological daughter and was adopted by Cipriano Garcia, who raised her as his daughter since she was born, family members said.
While Carter understands the family's frustration, he said aspects of the case remain under investigation.
"I know there are still questions the Hobart police are getting answered and we (the prosecutor's office) are reviewing all the statements," Carter said.
Cummings, though, said the answer isn't good enough.
"Until I see them both behind bars, nothing is going to make it better," Cummings said.
Tammy Garcia, who moved back into her parents' home a few weeks ago, remains at the house where her father died and she grew up. Cummings said it's frustrating because the family has had no contact with her since the death and many want to obtain some of her father's personal possessions, including military uniforms, medals and photographs.
Tammy Garcia, according to Hobart police reports, called the department Tuesday after she discovered a door forced open at the home in the 300 block of North Cavendar Street. She told police that items in a dresser drawer were taken.
Hobart Lt. Bob Jarmula said the items were taken by an immediate family member.
"She won't let us in the house," Cummings said. "As long as she's in there, we know she's just guilty. If she wasn't, she wouldn't want to live in a house knowing our father died there."
When Tammy Garcia arrived home Oct. 30, Barbara Garcia said her father had suddenly died. Barbara Garcia said they needed to cover up the death so she could continue receiving his pension checks, according to court documents.
Prior to her daughter's arrival home, Barbara Garcia reportedly told police she killed her husband because he was about to discover she used $4,000 from their savings account to cover gambling losses. Police and family members said it was not the first time she had gambled away sizable portions of the couple's savings. In the 43 years that the couple was married, Barbara Garcia gambled away more than $100,000, family members said.
While Cummings said she didn't have a close relationship with her mother, she said she loved her father very much. She said she's proud of the man he was.
"My dad was not abusive toward my mom, it was the other way around," Cummings said. "He more or less protected her."
As of Thursday, no Illinois charges had been filed in connection with the case, although officials there are considering possible charges such as concealing a homicide.
Cummings is hoping charges in Illinois come to fruition and charges are filed against her sister in Lake County. Cummings said she plans to be at her mother's future court appearances to see justice served.
"That would be my closure," Cummings said.
Staff Writer Ruthann Robinson also contributed to this story.
Gina Czark can be reached at gczark@nwitimes.com or (219) 662-5325.
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