An 8-year-old girl was found dead in a Bakersfield hotel room over the weekend, and authorities have charged her father and stepmother with her death, triggering a wave of public grief, anger, and calls for accountability.
Genesis Ariah Mata was discovered Saturday in the bathtub of a room at the La Quinta Inn on Easton Drive. According to police, her father, 31-year-old Ray Mata Jr., and his partner, 27-year-old Graciela Bustamonte, face charges of first-degree murder, torture, and willful cruelty to a child.
Investigators reportedly believe Genesis had endured long-term abuse before her death, and one responding officer described her injuries as extensive.
According to police interviews, both adults admitted to harmful behavior but attempted to shift blame onto each other. Ray reportedly told authorities that Genesis died Friday evening, nearly 24 hours before 911 was called.
Child Protective Services already had an active case involving Ray, and school staff had previously raised alarms about his children. The staff cited frequent absences and visible signs of mistreatment. Despite these warnings, Genesis remained in the home.
Both pleaded not guilty during their first court appearance on Tuesday. The couple reportedly remains in custody without bond. The court has also issued protection orders for other family members.
A man standing before a judge | Source: Getty Images
According to reports, CPS had received at least 20 calls concerning Genesis, prompting accusations that the agency failed to act. Genesis’s older cousin, Sabrina Guerrero, told BakersfieldNow Eyewitness News, “I had to actually hold myself back. I had to restrain myself because the system failed my little cousin.”
Daisy Gomez, whose daughter was one of Genesis’s close friends, also criticized the agency, saying, “There were signs of abuse on Genesis that you can say she was abused,” adding:
“When it comes down to people that are living in hotels, and they have nothing really much, they don’t take the kids away. They leave them there to continue to suffer, get beaten, mistreated, starved [sic].”
A woman in an interview | Source: Getty Images
On Sunday evening, the community gathered to honor Genesis. Over 50 people reportedly held a candlelight vigil outside the very room where her body was found. Attendees lit candles, prayed, and released balloons into the sky.
A community holding a candle light ceremony | Source: Getty Images
“Genesis… she was a beautiful, beautiful granddaughter. She was born in my home, basically raised her, she just loved music, she loved dancing, she was a happy go jolly little girl [sic],” said her grandmother, Ruth Mata.
Ruth recalled how Genesis loved to dance, especially to her favorite gospel song, “Let Me Tell You About My Jesus” by Anne Wilson. Genesis was born on November 29, 2016, and had been living at the La Quinta Inn on Riverside Drive in central Bakersfield with her family. The hotel has not made a public statement.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover funeral expenses and honor her memory. Organizer Sofia Hernandez, Genesis’s cousin, described her as “full of life, had a beautiful spirit, and loved anything that sparkled.”
Her death has sparked widespread grief and reflection, with some community members expressing heartbreak and frustration on social media. Nestle Black, a fellow parent at Genesis’s school, shared a heartfelt reflection on Facebook:
“My son and Genesis were classmates, and their teacher usually sent pictures and videos of the class. It breaks my heart knowing that those moments may have been some of the few times she truly felt safe. School may have been her only safe place, and that should never be the case for any child. This isn’t just a family’s loss — this is a community’s heartbreak… We must do better.”
Another nearby resident, Akilia April Hightower, posted a powerful tribute. As the case unfolds, questions arise about how such a tragedy could happen, de
