True Crime With Caledonian Kitty : MakaylaSettles

(Makayla Rene Settles. Left picture credit: Moorpack Acorn. Right picture credit: gofundme. Collage made by Caledonian Kitty)

*Please be aware that I will be sharing some very disturbing details in this post! I will be discussing sexual abuse, sexual assault and suicide. I have aimed, as I always do, to be as sensitive as I can be with the details without taking away from the facts of the case. If you would like to discuss this post with me or any of the cases I have previously covered on this blog, please email me at jocaledoniankitty@gmail.com*

With everything that has been going on lately in the UK regarding the mistreatment and abuse of women and young girls allegedly by well-known comedians who have been on our TV screens for decades, you'd have thought that I'd had enough shocks and moments of utter disbelief, but a story was emailed to me by one of my readers that made my blood run cold.

This case is very recent and I'm still struggling to get my head around it, even as I write this. In terms of injustice, the manner in which this case has been dealt with is horrific....I thought we had problems with the so-called justice system here in the UK but it seems that so many other people out there, around the world, are being failed by the very people who are supposed to have their best interests at heart.

Researching further details of this case just made me more and more angry for so many reasons, I wasn't sure if I should write about it but I think it's important because justice has not been served here, not in the slightest! Although I might be miles away from where these devastating events took place, I believe that sometimes the internet can get it right, the more eyes and the more voices we have on this story, maybe something can be done? It can't hurt to try.

I have to warn you to brace yourself because this is one of the most disturbing cases I have ever written about, so please ensue that afterwards you have some tea (or whichever drink you find comforting) and do something relaxing.

So let's get into it...

Makayla Rene Settles was a beautiful, talented young woman with her whole life ahead of her. When she came into the world, she was truly blessed. Her mother Carolina adored and loved her little girl and they both had an incredible bond that can never be broken. Makayla was a cute little girl who was loved deeply by her family and each year she just grew more and more into a beautiful and very bright young woman. When she turned 18 she was excited, she was very self-motivated and had hopes and dreams that she was looking forward to working on, especially her goal of becoming an architect. Her relationship with her father was quite distant but they got along well when she did hear from him or the times that she did get the chance to visit him.

Her father Stephen Vincent Chavez had lived apart from Makayla's mother for a very long time. He lived in California and Makayla lived with her mother in North Carolina. With dreams of starting a new chapter in life now that she was 18 years old, Makayla thought it would be a good idea to move out to California so that she could go to college there. To save money and the stress of looking for somewhere to live, it was decided that she would stay at her father's house in Moorpark. It was an exciting time for her and although she was going to miss her mother and her family terribly, she planned to keep in regular contact and make regular trips back to see them.

As a mother, Carolina (who was also just as pretty as Makayla) one can only imagine that it must have been quite hard for her to see Makayla go, especially after all the years she did her best to take care of her. Carolina did an incredible job raising Makayla and anyone who ever knew her would tell you how much of a sweetheart she truly was.

Part of Makayla's sweet nature was that she trusted people and in going to stay with her biological father, nobody could blame her for thinking that this was going to be a completely safe place for her to be. When she first arrived in California all seemed to be well and she was looking forward to settling in. It was all supposed to be an exciting fresh start and the beginning of a new journey of college, new friends, new experiences and lots of fun, instead it turned into a living nightmare.

Stephen suggested they go to visit family and have some drinks. Makayla went along and to begin with, she was enjoying herself but Stephen was encouraging her to drink more and more. For a parent to act in such a manner was very unusual but Stephen Chavez was no proper parent, he was a disgusting pervert who had become obsessed with his own daughter. As Makayla grew up and became more and more beautiful with lots of personality and potential for the future, her father was watching her when she came to visit. The year before she came to live with him he was acting very strange towards her, a bit too close for comfort. Makayla, wanting to see the best in everyone tried to brush this off as her father just being affectionate, but it much more sinister than that.

(From left: Stephen Vincent Chavez. Right: Makayla Rene Settles. Picture credit: Fox LA News)

As time went on and more drinks were had, Stephen decided it was time for them to go home. This was all part of a sick plan that he had been waiting to carry out for a very long time. He took Makayla home and she was already inebriated. Instead of getting her a glass of water and letting her rest, he forced her to drink more alcohol.

In his home with his vulnerable 18 year old daughter (Makayla now completely helpless because of all the alcohol he had been making her drink) this sick monster made his move. For four horrendous hours he subjected his own daughter to a brutal and sickening rape. Makayla was intoxicated but she could still see, hear and feel everything that was happening to her but she could hardly move. This sick and evil monster did what he wanted and he took his time. It was hell and one cannot even begin (or want to imagine) the absolute trauma she went through.

As sick as this is to even say, Stephen Chavez had been fantasizing about his own daughter for a long time and had planned to abuse her for years. When she expressed an interest in moving in with him, to go to college, he used this as an opportunity to carry out these sickening acts.

After the horrifying ordeal, an utterly devastated Makayla contacted her mother and her family, they were all understandably horrified. She was taken to the hospital where she underwent a series of tests and a rape kit was carried out. Stephen Chavez's DNA was collected from his own child, it is too sickening to believe! He was arrested and Makayla moved back home to North Carolina. She'd only been in California for two days, it's like he could not wait to pounce on this poor child.

As well as being sickened by all of this, the way in which this case was dealt with with leave you screaming (as it has me). That disgusting piece of trash, Stephen Chavez was charged with incest and giving a minor alcohol. The circumstances were not taken as serious as they should have been. The whole ordeal turned Makayla's life upside down. What was a happy, bubbly and excited girl with a zest for life was suddenly turned into a terrified young woman who was frightened of her own shadow, all because of him, a man who was supposed to be her father! His role was to protect her, not harm her in the most horrific ways!

Five months of constant flashbacks, horrific memories, confusion, anxiety, trauma....life was hell for Makayla. Carolina and her family did all they could to support her and lift her spirits but too much damage by Stephen Chavez had been done. For four hours he constantly abused his own daughter for his own sick pleasure and that is something that anyone would struggle to cope with let alone a young 18 year old girl.

It all became too much for Makayla especially as it seemed to be that he was getting away with it. She sat down and wrote goodbye letters to her mother and family. She expressed the suffering she had been going through since the horrific rape and that she just couldn't face another day. She sadly attempted suicide on the 22nd of December 2025 and spent days in hospital in a medically induced coma. Carolina and her family never left her side but she sadly passed away on the 30th of December 2025. At a time when Makayla and her family should have been celebrating Christmas and the coming New Year, this poor beautiful girl and her family were going through hell and none of it should have been happening. The person who should have been going through hell (and burning in it) was Stephen Chavez, the monster who created all of this horrendous pain for so many people.

People may say that 'Murder' is a strong word to use but when a person is raped, whatever sex or age, a part of them dies and it takes a hell of a lot of strength to recover. In my opinion, Stephen Chavez is 100% responsible for Makayla's death. This beautiful girl had the world at her feet, she had everything to live for. She was excited for the future and was ready to really get started in life and he took all of that away. How could anyone possibly recover from such evil abuse from your own father? The trauma must have been overwhelming, it would be a struggle for anyone at any age but for an 18 year old girl? It's just so terrible you can't find the words!

(Stephen Vincent Chavez. Picture credit: Fox 11 News)

Stephen Chavez was sentenced to just one year in prison plus three years probation. He served JUST LESS THAN SIX MONTHS!!! So for the brutal four hour rape of his own daughter, forcing her to drink alcohol to render her helpless and having her driven to her own untimely death..... he just spent six months in jail and has to sign a sex offenders register for 20 years. It's pathetic and so unbelievable. He was released on the 9th of November 2026. That thing is back on the streets, if he could do that to his own daughter, nobody is safe!

Carolina has set up a petition, please take a moment to sign it: Demand Justice For Makayla Rene Settles!

Makayla was laid to rest in a beautiful ceremony attended by all of those she held close to her. Her funeral took place in January of this year 2026. This case is so raw and Carolina's petition was just posted a few days ago as well as that piece of trash being released from prison this week. Hopefully Makayla's story will reach more eyes and ears, justice NEEDS to be done here.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my post, I understand how difficult it was to get through this but please sign and share the petition on your social media platforms and beyond. Thank you!