Bakersfield, CA — Newly released court documents have revealed deeply disturbing and graphic details surrounding the tragic death of 8-year-old Genesis Ariah Mata, whose lifeless body was discovered in a bathtub at the La Quinta Inn on Riverside Drive and Buck Owens Boulevard on the evening of Saturday, August 2, 2025.

The young girl, identified by friends and family as Genesis Ariah Mata, was the victim of what investigators are describing as prolonged and brutal abuse. According to Bakersfield police, the girl’s body was found under harrowing conditions, prompting an immediate homicide investigation.

Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: 31-year-old Ray Mata Jr. of Bakersfield and 27-year-old Graciela Bustamonte of Delano. Both face multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, willful cruelty to a child, and torture.

Court filings paint a gruesome picture of the child’s final days. According to the probable cause affidavit, Mata and Bustamonte allegedly subjected Genesis to unimaginable cruelty over a span of two days, including pouring scalding hot water over her body. The burns were so severe that officers reported her skin had split and peeled, with large blisters and raw wounds visible on her scalp, face, and back.

One responding officer recounted the horrifying scene, stating that Genesis appeared to have suffered repeated beatings and severe physical trauma. In addition to the extensive burns, her scalp showed signs of deep lacerations, and her body bore the marks of repeated whippings—so severe that layers of skin had been torn away, exposing flesh beneath.

The abuse extended to crushing injuries. Documents indicate that the girl’s fingers had been intentionally placed in door frames and slammed shut, causing her fingernails to separate and detach. Her hand was described as crushed and mangled from the repeated assaults.

During her interview with investigators, Bustamonte claimed that she had long endured a cycle of violence from Mata, describing him as physically and verbally abusive. She admitted to witnessing the abuse of Genesis and other children for years, stating she never contacted law enforcement out of fear of incarceration. According to the court documents, she told officers: “I would have intervened if this was happening to my own biological children.”

Bustamonte also confirmed that the children were routinely beaten with household objects, including cell phone charging cords and metal hangers. The report notes she referred to the attacks not as “spankings,” but as full-fledged “beatings,” often resulting in the children’s backs bleeding profusely.

When questioned, Mata placed the majority of the blame on Bustamonte, alleging that it was her idea to scald Genesis with hot water “so she could learn to listen.” However, under a Miranda warning, Mata later admitted to striking the child’s abdomen with his fist, an action he claims caused her to lose consciousness and die. While he acknowledged his role in beating the children, he denied burning Genesis or damaging her fingernails.

Court records also revealed that Mata was the subject of an open investigation with Child Protective Services (CPS). A prior report had been made by school staff after noticing that his children frequently missed school and showed up with visible bruises and other injuries. The revelation has sparked outrage from the public and Genesis’s family, who now hold CPS partly accountable for failing to intervene before it was too late.

Both suspects entered pleas of not guilty during their court appearance and remain in custody without bond. They are expected to appear again before a judge later this month.

Photos from the courtroom show Bustamonte and Mata seated before the bench, each facing the sobering reality of the charges brought against them.

The community continues to mourn the devastating loss of Genesis Ariah Mata, while demanding justice for the innocent child whose life was stolen in such a brutal manner. Authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward as the investigation remains active.