CRIME: (Logan Square) Acid Attack Gets Woman 44-Year Prison Sentence

Monday, a judge ruled that one of two women convicted of orchestrating a caustic acid attack that severely disfigured a Logan Square woman will spend 44 years of her life in prison.

A 60–year-old Cicero grandmother, Ofelia Garcia, and her ex-daughter-in-law, Maria Overa-Garcia, were each convicted on September 29th or heinous battery for the July 28th, 2008 attack that burned over 25 percent of Esperanza Medina’s body.

The attack was fueled by jealousy over a man, said prosecutors. Garcia’s former longtime common law husband Gustavo Alvarez testified that he had “mucho, mucho” dalliances during their 32-year relationship, including an affair with Garcia’s ex-daughter-in-law, Olvera-Garcia, but when he ended things with Olvera-Garcia and moved in with Medina in 2007, Garcia was enraged and tried hiring a Private Detective to find Medina.

Prosecutors said Garcia was “too cowardly” to do her own “dirty work” so she coaxed three young people to throw the acid on Medina, hit her with an aluminum bat, and steal her purse as she left for work.

The third woman who transported the teens, Linda Dirzo, died in Cook County Jail in December while awaiting trial.

After she was arrested, Olvera-Garcia admitted that Garcia offered her $5,000 to $6,000 to “cut up” Medina’s face, but when neither woman was willing to actually due it, they decided to recruit the teens.

Mariela Duran and Jose Avila pleaded guilty to heinous battery, while the third teen, Jennifer Ruiz, who acted as lookout, was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to aggravated battery.