An inmate at a California jail has unexpectedly gained public sympathy and financial support after reportedly attacking a woman accused of the torture and killing of her eight-year-old stepdaughter.
According to local outlet KBAK, Anita Doron, who is currently being held at Lerdo Jail in Kern County, allegedly assaulted fellow inmate Graciela Bustamante on August 8. Bustamante is facing charges in connection with the horrific death of young Genesis Mata earlier this month.
The reported altercation quickly spread beyond prison walls, drawing widespread attention on social media. Many members of the public, outraged by the details of the child’s death, responded by donating money to Doron’s commissary account. Officials confirmed that the account quickly exceeded the maximum allowable number of transactions.
Speaking to KBAK, Doron showed no remorse for the assault. “I would definitely do it again,” she said, explaining that other inmates had been disturbed by Bustamante’s demeanor after returning from court. “She had come back from court, and she was laughing and giggling. Some of the girls were asking, ‘What’s funny?’ When you’re faced with someone that’s gross and has no remorse, you kind of don’t want to deal with it.”
Bustamante, 33, was hospitalized following the alleged attack, though authorities have not released specific details about the extent of her injuries.
The case against Bustamante and her husband, Ray Mata Jr., has shaken the Bakersfield community and drawn national coverage.
On August 2, the body of eight-year-old Genesis was discovered in a motel bathroom. Investigators said the child showed signs of severe abuse, including burns believed to have been inflicted with hot water, as well as evidence of beatings and whipping, according to PEOPLE.
“She was full of life, had a beautiful spirit, and loved anything that sparkled. Her life was stolen far too soon,” Genesis’ family members wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to cover her funeral expenses.
For Doron, the allegations against Bustamante struck a personal chord. She told reporters she has a young cousin named Genesis and that hearing the details of the child’s suffering triggered painful memories from her own past.
“When it comes to the foster system and CPS, just, we gotta get these kids,” she said. “It’s really serious what’s going on with children. This is really an epidemic, and it’s disgusting. Something needs to be done.”
Doron is not without her own criminal record. She is being held on charges related to vehicle theft and evading law enforcement, to which she has entered a plea of no contest. Her bail has been set at $70,000.
Despite her circumstances, Doron has quickly become a figure of fascination outside the jail, with some members of the public hailing her as a vigilante, per KGET. Others, however, have cautioned that violence within correctional facilities, regardless of motive, only complicates ongoing legal proceedings.
Bustamante and Mata Jr. both remain in custody as they await trial for the killing of young Genesis, whose death continues to spark outrage and grief.