In 1997, Alexia Anne Reale lived in Elk Grove, California, with her mother and stepfather, Barbara and Larry Carrasco, and her older sister. This case summary includes photos of Barbara and Larry.
According to Alexia’s sister, their family life had been relatively normal until February 1997, when Larry abruptly stopped working and he and Barbara began talking about demons and vampires inhabiting both Alexia and her sister. Larry and Barbara were both using methamphetamine at the time, which caused them to act irrationally.
According to Alexia’s sister, physical and mental abuse began in their home during the winter of 1997. Barbara, according to her sister, intentionally burned Alexia on the back of one of her feet with a cigarette lighter, among other abusive acts.
Larry and Barbara, according to Alexia’s sister, forced her and Alexia to drink bleach-laced beverages in late May 1997. This appeared to be an attempt to “cleanse” the children of their alleged possessions. Alexia’s sister stated that they were told to drink the concoction for eight days in a row.
She claimed she last saw Alexia lying motionless on the floor of the family’s home on June 1, 1997. Barbara was standing next to the child, who appeared to be pale and deceased. Barbara attempted CPR before realizing Alexia was dead, according to Alexia’s sister.
Larry and Barbara dismembered Alexia’s body in a closet with a pruning saw shortly after her death, according to Alexia’s sister. The child’s remains, she claimed, were then incinerated in the family fireplace and thrown into the Sacramento River, along with the tools used in the dismemberment.
When authorities began investigating Alexia’s disappearance in the summer of 1997, Alexia’s sister admitted she initially lied to them. She told police that Alexia was living in Illinois with her biological father. Larry and Barbara allegedly instructed Alexia’s sister on what to tell authorities if questions about Alexia’s whereabouts arose.
When one of the girls’ teachers noticed chemical burns on Alexia’s sister’s body after the school year began in the fall of 1997, the abuse patterns were discovered. Alexia’s sister later told police that Larry had doused her with bleach in another attempt to “exorcise” her demons. The truth about Alexia’s disappearance was revealed when her sister told investigators the entire story.
Larry and Barbara were convicted of Alexia’s murder and additional child abuse charges in 2000. Larry is currently serving a 40-year-to-life prison sentence, while Barbara is serving 15 years to life. Alexia’s remains have never been located.