‘It feels like I handed my daughter to the devil’: Father charged with incest after daughter commits suicide following alleged rape

MOORPARK, Calif. (TCN) -- A man has pleaded not guilty to felony incest and related charges in connection with the alleged rape of his teenage daughter, who took her own life five months later.

According to KTTV, 18-year-old Makayla Settles moved from North Carolina to California in July 2025 to live with her biological father, Stephen Vincent Chavez, 41. The New York Post reports Chavez had reportedly promised to give Settles a car and a college savings fund.

Two days after she arrived at his home, Settles went to the hospital following an alleged sexual assault. Hospital staff performed a rape kit on Settles, which confirmed the presence of Chavez’s DNA.

After the alleged assault occurred, Settles called her mother, Carolina Sandoval, who told KTVU, “It was just the fear in her voice, her crying. I didn’t need details. I knew something was wrong.”

According to Sandoval and to Settles’ uncle, the alleged attack, which reportedly occurred when Chavez was intoxicated, left Settles in severe pain and unable to walk unaided, the Moorpark Acorn reports. The New York Post reports there was blood on Settles’ legs.

Chavez was arrested and jailed in connection with the alleged attack. He was released on $250,000 bail, per KTTV. According to family members, Settles took her own life five months later.

After she returned home to live with her mother in North Carolina, Settles struggled emotionally while trying to move forward, taking classes to become a nail technician, the Moorpark Acorn reports. She attempted suicide on December 22, 2025, and was placed in a medically induced coma. She was declared brain dead a few days later.

“If I’m being honest, it feels like I handed my daughter to the devil,” KTVU reports Sandoval said.

On April 21, Chavez pleaded not guilty to felony incest, taking advantage of a position of trust, and providing alcohol to a minor, per KTVU. According to the outlet, prosecutors say that the case may not make it to trial since Settles is dead and cannot provide testimony.

A statement to the Acorn from the spokesman for Ventura County District Attorney’s Office says, “Much of the information being shared on social media is not accurate. Our sexual assault unit is prosecuting this case to the fullest extent of the law. This is an extremely serious case where we are seeking a prison sentence.”

KTTV reports Chavez, who is out on bail, is due back in court on May 19 for a preliminary hearing.