Their incestuous romance shocked America… now mother who refused to end relationship with her own SON has sunk to an astonishing new low

By RUTH BASHINSKY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:18, 20 May 2026 | Updated: 22:18, 20 May 2026 A decade ago, Monica Mares and her biological son Caleb Peterson shocked America when they revealed they had 'fallen in love' after reconnecting on Facebook. The pair made national headlines in August 2016, when police in Clovis, New Mexico, charged them with incest after they admitted they were in a sexual relationship. At the time, the doomed lovers insisted their feelings were genuine. Monica claimed she never felt a maternal bond with Caleb because he had been taken from her as a baby and put up for adoption. Caleb, meanwhile, found himself drawn to the troubled mother of seven by a deep urge to protect her from a string of abusive relationships. But nearly 10 years on, the Daily Mail returned to New Mexico to find out what became of the infamous couple – and uncovered two lives that have completely unraveled. Monica has spiraled into addiction, homelessness and apparent psychosis, wandering the streets in ragged clothes while locals say she refuses help. Caleb is in and out of jail and facing fresh criminal charges. The pair are no longer together. Caleb Peterson - formerly Carlos Mares - shocked America when he entered a sexual relationship with his mom. He's pictured in 2017 Monica claimed she never felt a maternal bond with Caleb because he had been taken from her as a baby In Clovis, a small city of around 40,000 people east of Albuquerque, many believe the fallout from the scandal marked the beginning of both their downfalls. One local who now sees Monica regularly at a homeless shelter told the Daily Mail: 'It happened and neither has recovered from it - that is my opinion.' Monica was 16 when she gave birth to Caleb, who she originally named Carlos. When he was two years old, he was taken away from her and for 17 years she claims she knew nothing about him. Then, in 2015, the pair reconnected on Facebook. At that point, Caleb had grown into a handsome 6ft, 200-pound 19-year-old who relatives described as a sensitive and protective boy. Monica, 36 at the time, was raising seven children and struggling through a series of abusive relationships. When they met in person for the first time, Monica claimed sparks flew almost immediately. Caleb developed romantic feelings for his biological mother and their relationship soon became sexual. Monica's mother Sadie Baker, who the Daily Mail caught up with at her new home in Albuquerque last week, said: 'Carlos (Caleb) was the one who made the first move. 'I told her it was crazy. I told her don't do this. But they went ahead.' Baker said she would not allow Caleb into her home. 'I told him it was not right,' she said. Monica has spiraled into addiction, homelessness and apparent psychosis  Monica in July 2020 when she was charged with negligent arson while allegedly high on meth Caleb booking 2023 booking photo from the Curry County Jail in Clovis  For more than a year, Monica and Caleb carried on their secret relationship until a neighbor alerted police after becoming suspicious. Investigators confronted the pair, who admitted they were sexually involved. Both were arrested and charged with incest. In March 2017, a Curry County court found them guilty after they entered no contest pleas.  They were sentenced to three years probation and were banned from contacting one another, effectively ending their relationship. After their love affair became known, Baker said her daughter started getting threats: 'Everyone got mad at her.' Then, a home that had been in her family for decades in Clovis was burned down, she suspects by someone protesting the incestuous relationship.  It was during this time Monica admitted to her mother she had made 'a mistake,' Baker said. 'She started crying saying she didn't know what to do,' Baker recalled. "I told her, 'You don't listen to your mommy. I told you." Thank god they don't have no kids,' she added. After the relationship ended in 2017, Monica and Caleb drifted into separate and increasingly troubled lives. Monica married another man, Joe Garza, in November 2018, according to a marriage license obtained by the Daily Mail. Caleb moved to Melrose, a tiny rural community about two hours outside Clovis. But neither appeared able to escape the notoriety and chaos that followed their relationship becoming public. The desolate alleyways in downtown Clovis where Monica may be roaming  The Lighthouse Mission Shelter in Clovis where Monica stops in for beverages and toiletries  A home that Monica and her husband Joe Garza were reportedly living until October 2025 Court records show Caleb spent years cycling in and out of jail over offenses including probation violations, traffic charges, driving on a revoked license and two DUIs. At some point he relocated to Pueblo, Colorado, where he appeared to be working as a handyman and living with relatives. His social media suggests he was in another relationship as recently as 2024. But earlier this year, his legal troubles escalated again. The Pueblo County Sheriff's Department confirmed to the Daily Mail that Caleb was arrested on April 8 on charges of criminal trespassing and criminal mischief. Authorities said he was being held on a $5 million bond. Court records also show he has an active warrant tied to a separate 2024 case out of Clovis. The Daily Mail made repeated attempts to contact Caleb. Monica's decline has been even more dramatic. Mugshots taken over the years chart a startling deterioration. Once a heavier-set brunette with a bright smile, she is now bald and gaunt. Baker says her daughter is almost unrecognizable. 'She cut her hair. She is bald. I don't know why. She is mad at herself I guess. She lost lots of weight now. She is now down to less than 100 pounds,' she said. Looking at old photos of Monica, Baker became emotional. 'She looked like me... she was a beautiful girl.' Monica's sister Debbie Pastor, 49, grew emotional talking about her younger sister outside her home  Sadie Baker, 75, pictured at her new home in Albuquerque expressed great despair for her daughter Monica  Baker said her family home was burnt down on Cameo Street after the incestuous relationship made headlines Locals in Clovis say she spends her days wandering the streets in filthy clothes, often refusing food, fresh outfits or shelter. In July 2020, Monica was charged with negligent arson after police said she accidentally started a backyard fire while allegedly high on methamphetamine. According to the criminal complaint obtained by the Daily Mail, Monica told officers she was 'coming down off a high from yellow meth' and had been awake for several days. The charges were ultimately dismissed after she was deemed unfit to stand trial. Now, workers at a local shelter say Monica drifts in and out several times a week - often wearing the same tattered shoes. 'She is always in the streets with old shoes. She is really psychosis [sic]. She never wants a clean outfit,' Debbie, who runs The Mission Lighthouse shelter, told the Daily Mail. 'I wish we can help her. I know her story. It is very sad. It is true it happened. She never knew him. She birthed him and he was gone. It is a tragic story. 'He was birthed and then gone and 18 years he shows up finds his biological mother and they fell in love and that is what it is. 'Through the years I am sure she has been emotionally beat up.' The romance that once drew national fascination now survives only as a cautionary tale whispered about in Clovis Debbie described Monica as detached and mentally unwell. 'She is not coherently here. Does she want help? I will ask her. She will smirk. She is stoic but there is nothing there.' Monica's older sister, Debbie Pastor, said the family remains devastated by what happened. 'She's doing bad. She's really high on drugs,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I feel bad. I worry about her everyday. I pray for her everyday.' According to her family, Monica was deeply vulnerable long before the incest scandal exploded. Her sister said Monica was struggling financially and emotionally when Caleb re-entered her life after nearly two decades apart. 'I was really surprised. I don't know what happened,' she paused. 'I don't know what happened to her,' Debbie said. The romance that once drew national fascination now survives only as a cautionary tale whispered about in Clovis. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.