in Katy, Texas a single mom named Adriana Garcia said she had a gut feeling she was being watched.
Unfortunately, she was right.
Garcia's neighbor, 37-year-old Mario Martel, was arrested and ordered to stay away from her as of this past Tuesday.
Garcia said she always got a creepy feeling from Martel, as he watched her from his porch. As a mother of a 14-year-old autistic son, Garcia said she will do anything to keep him safe.
After her son found footprints outside, she decided to install night vision camera's outside her home, pointed at the bedroom window.
WOMEN, TRUST YOUR INTUITION! A #Katy mom FELT like someone was watching. \n\nShe set up cameras.\nThis morning @HCSOTexas arrested her neighbor who was caught peeping into her bedroom windows. \n\nThe sound of the grass crunching.Yikes.\n\nFULL #KHOU11 story-> https://tinyurl.com/4a9ecn52\u00a0pic.twitter.com/HHeUO8Z0OB— Melissa Correa (@Melissa Correa) 1625607847
Garcia told KHOU 11:
"I haven't been sleeping for over a month, just waiting, waiting."
"I have clear footage where he looks in any way he can and touches himself while looking in through little gaps of both my bedroom windows."
As soon as she saw the camera had caught his movement, Garcia went outside and confronted Martel.
He begged her not to tell but as soon as he ran into his home she called the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Will do! I have emails into @HCSOTexas so that once he's processed into the system we can run his name through the courts to see if he has a criminal history.— Melissa Correa (@Melissa Correa) 1625609537
Garcia said she is still fearful for her safety:
"He violated my privacy. I'm afraid, no matter how brave I look."
"Of course, I go through that fear."
"Now I'll never, if I look at my window, if I hear a noise."
"What's going to happen? I mean, he scarred me."
KHOU 11 posted the story to Facebook where many commented they would have shot Martel if it happened to them.
Lizbeth Sandoval Aranda/Facebook
Janelle D. Taylor/Facebook
Angela Cauley/Facebook
Austin Anderson/Facebook
Cari Lynn Doyle/Facebook
Anthony Starkton/Facebook
WooWood/Facebook
As of Thursday morning, Martel has been released on $100 general order bond.
Garcia now carries a handgun with her. She now warns women to trust their gut.