11-Year-Old Eliana Garbutt Scars Recovering Slowly

Saturday’s vicious attack on a family of five in Monkey River claimed the lives of Elvis Garbutt, 39, his wife Emerita, 30, and their 3-year-old son, Ellis. While 8-year-old Elvis Jr. survived unscathed, his 11-year-old sister, Eliana, suffered serious injuries to her face and hand. The accused suspect, Curtis Molina, has since then been arrested and charged with three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. 

Sherret Cuevas, Elvis’s eldest sister, told News 5 that Eliana is slowly recovering. She said, “The swelling on her face has gone down. She can now speak much better. She can drink. First, she was unable to drink.” However, Cuevas says that young Eliana’s missing teeth and damaged tongue have prevented her from eating solid food. 

Though initially feared to have lost two fingers, doctors confirmed that only her thumb was damaged, and it is healing well. However, fragments from the gunshot remain in her face, and doctors have decided not to remove them and allow the body to manage them naturally. 

The children are now under the care of their aunts and uncles, who are working with social workers to ensure they get the emotional support they need. The family has assured that counselling will be provided as soon as possible for the children to help them heal. “The sooner, the better… we want to do what’s best for the kids,” Cuervas stated.