BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A Kern County judge has found Ray Mata Jr., the father of Genesis Mata, competent to stand trial in a case involving the 8-year-old’s death.
The competency exam for Ray Mata was set back in March by a judge.
Genesis was found dead in a La Quinta motel bathtub on August 2, 2025. Mata and Genesis’ stepmother, Graciela Bustamonte, are accused of torturing and killing the girl.
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A death investigation is underway after a body was discovered inside the La Quinta Inn in central Bakersfield, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. This is a photo of the crime scene on August 2, 2025. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
A death investigation is underway after a body was discovered inside the La Quinta Inn in central Bakersfield, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. This is a photo of the crime scene on August 2, 2025. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
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Ray Mata and Bustamonte are due in court on June 30, 2026, according to court officials.