EVERETT — Janet Garcia, accused of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of her 4-year-old son, Ariel Garcia, was deemed competent to proceed with her trial during a hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court on Wednesday.
This comes almost exactly one year after Janet Garcia’s initial arraignment, on April 22, 2024. The trial, delayed for months as the court awaited competency evaluations, is now set for Aug. 22.
After several postponed competency hearings, Janet Garcia, 28, appeared in court Wednesday, dressed in inmate clothing and unrestrained.
Deputy prosecutor Martina Wong and Janet Garcia’s defense attorney Kathryn Fraser each told Superior Court Judge Richard T. Okrent they signed off on the competency evaluation from Western State Hospital.
On April 22, 2024, Janet Garcia pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, after her son, Ariel, was found dead along I-5 in Pierce County, weeks after he had gone missing from their Everett apartment.
Authorities launched a regional search for Ariel, but his body was discovered on March 28, 2024, with 16 stab wounds and additional defensive wounds, according to court documents.
Janet Garcia had been exhibiting violent behavior toward her older son in the days before Ariel’s death, according to court documents. Her grandmother had filed for emergency guardianship of the two children in March 2024, citing Janet Garcia’s alcohol and drug abuse and violent outbursts.
Janet Garcia was arrested March 27, 2024, after allegedly being seen with bloodstains on her clothing in Ridgefield.
At about 1:42 p.m. that day, security footage showed the defendant’s Nissan stopped along the road near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, charges say. She got out of the car and retrieved something wrapped in a white blanket. Janet Garcia walked into the forested area. She returned to her car empty-handed, prosecutors allege.
Police interviewed Janet Garcia, who provided contradictory statements about where her son was, detectives wrote.
She was initially held on a $5 million bail, which was later reduced to $3 million after her defense attorney argued for a reduction.
Janet Garcia’s jury trial is currently scheduled for Aug. 22.
Aspen Anderson: 425-339-3192; aspen.anderson@heraldnet.com; X: @aspenwanderson.
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