East Charlotte couple accused of throwing garlic at officers, black magic rituals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Arrest documents reveal wild accusations about an East Charlotte couple. A neighbor called 911 on Wednesday to report that the man and woman who were living in a home on Mahogany Drive were performing what they described as “black magic rituals.”

The 911 caller said 34-year-old Gabriel Santos Funes and 33-year-old Maria Valladares were also burning things, screaming, and allegedly experiencing paranoid psychosis. The caller was concerned about children living in the home.

When officers arrived, they say they heard commotion inside the home. They saw shell casings, broken items, and blood droplets on front porch. Inside the house, they saw four children as well as Valladares with bruises on her face and Santos Funes covered in sweat.

Officers say the house was “in no shape for small children to be inhabiting.” Arrest documents say officers observed nearly every piece of furniture was destroyed, and there were glass and sharp items everywhere.

Police say Santos Funes tried to rub garlic and a Bible on the officers and sprayed one of the children down with cologne. Arrest documents show one of the kids, a young girl said she was not okay and scared to be at the home.

Santos Funes was arrested after police say he threw garlic at the officers. During his arrest, police say Valladares grabbed an officer’s neck and tried to bite and spit at officers.

She was also arrested. Both are facing multiple charges including child abuse.

When WCCB visited the house Friday, our crew saw people moving items out of the home.
Someone there they told us that the couple has been kicked out of the house.

Santos Funes is also facing a domestic violence charge. He and Valladares are being held at the Mecklenburg County detention center on top of the other charges they also have an ICE hold. If the couple is released for any reason, immigration customs enforcement agents will be standing by to detain them.