On the night of October 25, 2001, Cynthia Garcia, a 44-year-old mother of six, finds herself at the mercy of the notorious Hells Angels in Mesa, Arizona. Lured by a member of the gang, she enters their clubhouse expecting a night of revelry. However, the scene quickly shifts as Garcia, under the influence of alcohol, allegedly insults the gang members present. What begins as a party turns into a scene of violence and terror as the gang’s ire is unleashed upon her.
Days later, her body is discovered in a shallow grave in the Arizona desert, prompting an investigation that initially offers few leads. Michael Kramer, one of the gang members involved, eventually turns informant, driven by a crisis of conscience. His revelations expose the brutal involvement of Paul Merle Eischeid and Kevin Augustiniak, piecing together the harrowing events of that night and shedding light on the gang’s dark world.
As the years pass, justice begins to catch up with the perpetrators. Augustiniak is sentenced to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Eischeid, who initially fled the country, is extradited back to the United States and receives a 19-year sentence in 2021. The case remains a stark reminder of the violence inherent in gang life, leaving a lasting impact on Garcia’s family and the community.
Story Source: Non-fiction book titled “Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers’ Empire of Crime” (Alfred Knopf Canada).
