Garcia was last seen in Ontario, California on November 23, 1996. He is an immigrant from Veracruz, Mexico and was employed at a rice noodle factory, Rama Foods. Authorities believe Garcia was murdered by his boss, Woravit "Kim" Mektrakarn. Many employees at the factory worked twelve-hour days, six days a week for a total of 72 hours, but they were not paid overtime wages as required by law. Garcia threatened to report Mektrakarn to the labor commission unless Mektrakarn paid him $5,000. Mektrakarn agreed to pay him $1,000 up front and the rest of the money in installments, on the condition that Garcia tell no one else about the arrangement. Garcia agreed, but afterwards one of his coworkers found out and also demanded money.

Garcia planned to collect $3,000 from Mektrakarn on the day of his disappearance, and was last seen at the factory asking for the money. He had plans go out to dinner with a cousin afterwards, but he never showed up. He had purchased a plane ticket to Veracruz to visit relatives on December 9, but never used it. He has never been heard from again. His gray Toyota Tercel was found in Los Angeles, California on December 4, with the keys in the ignition and the tank full of gasoline.

Authorities never believed Garcia left of his own accord. He is described as a happy, friendly young man who got along with most people. He moved to the United States in 1993, made friends with local immigrants, and lived with roommates in a house in Ontario. He was looking forward to visiting his parents in Mexico, as he had not seen them in years.

Responding to the concerns of Garcia's friends, the police went to Rama Foods on November 25 and began a homicide investigation into his disappearance. His cousin and coworker stated the office carpet looked as if liquid had spilled on it, and a triangular piece had been cut out. The carpet had not appeared that way on the morning of November 23. Mektrakarn was present when the police arrived and he had injuries on his hands. In a nearby dumpster were pieces of burned carpet, lighter fluid, liquid soap, rubber gloves, scouring pads and a metal pot filled with ashes. Two handguns were located at the scene. Traces of blood were visible on the carpet in the Rama Foods office, in the office hallway, and in the office bathroom. Mektrakarn had rented a minivan at Ontario International Airport on the day Garcia disappeared, and it was later located at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. When it was found it was clean, the license plates were missing and bleach had been poured all over the interior.

Mektrakarn was arrested for Garcia's murder, but he was released after several days when prosecutors decided they had insufficient evidence to convict. He returned to his native Thailand and authorities continued to investigate the case. In 2003, they developed a DNA profile for Garcia and proved the blood at the factory was his. They also searched the factory again and sprayed the office with fluorescein, a chemical that detects blood traces. Previously invisible blood spatters were discovered on the walls, floor and ceiling of the office, and additional blood was also located in the hallway and bathroom, and on a door. The blood evidence leads authorities to believe Garcia was standing against the office wall when he was attacked, and afterwards he was dragged down the hallway and assaulted a second time in the bathroom. Based on the new evidence, Mektrakarn was again charged with Garcia's murder. Authorities are in the process of having him extradited from Thailand.

The factory manager, Chansak "Buck" Plengsangtip, a friend of Metrakarn's, was charged as an accessory after the fact to Garcia's murder. He was at the factory the night Garcia vanished and told police he had seen nothing suspicious and had no knowledge of Garcia's disappearance and presumed murder. He also stated he knew Mektrakarn could not have committed the murder, because he was with Plengsangtip for the entire night. Prosectors believe Plengsangtip was aware that Mektrakarn had murdered Garcia and lied to cover up his friend's crimes. The accessory charge was later dismissed for lack of evidence, but it was reinstated on appeal. Plengsantip is awaiting trial.

Garcia's remains have never been found. They may been dumped in the desert in California or Nevada. Foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved.