The family of 18-year-old Makayla Settles is demanding justice after she died by suicide months after allegedly being raped by her father, Stephen Vincent Chavez, who remains free on bail.
In July 2025, Makayla moved from Raleigh to Moorpark to live with him. Within days, she called her mother in distress. According to her family, she fled the home and later reported that her father got her drunk and assaulted her. A hospital exam reportedly confirmed his DNA.
Chavez was arrested and charged with multiple felonies but pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. After returning home, Makayla struggled with severe trauma and depression, and in December 2025, she died by suicide.
Now, with no living witness, prosecutors in Ventura County face challenges, though the case is still ongoing. Her family continues to protest and raise awareness, determined to seek justice for her.