US4 min(s) read
Published 08:15 21 May 2026 GMT
A mom and son who allegedly fell in love with each other and were charged with incest have fallen on seriously hard times since.
Monica Mares and her son Caleb Peterson were a source of great shock in the USA 10 years ago when they started a sexual relationship. A decade later, things have gone south for both.
Back in 2016, the pair were charged with incest by police in Clovis, New Mexico.
This came after the pair admitted that they were engaging in a sexual relationship.
It all came about after the pair reconnected following years apart.
Monica was just 16 when she gave birth to Caleb, who was originally called Carlos.
After two years of his young life, the boy was taken away from his mother, starting 17 years of no contact between the pair.
Then, in 2015 and after social media came to the fore, the pair managed to reconnect.
Caleb was 19 by this time, and Monica was 36 and raising seven children as well as struggling with abusive relationships.
Bizarrely, they developed feelings for each other and their relationship quickly went to the next level.
According to Monica’s mother, it was Caleb who was the instigator.
She said: “Carlos (Caleb) was the one who made the first move.
“I told her it was crazy. I told her don't do this. But they went ahead.”
“I told him it was not right,” she added, confirming that she refused to let Caleb into her home.
A neighbor eventually raised the alarm on their sordid relationship, and the pair were subject to investigation then charged with incest.
In March 2017, they were found guilty after pleading no contest and sentenced to three years probation, as well as being banned from contact.
According to reports, Monica has since struggled with substance misuse issues, as well as homelessness and mental health problems.
Caleb has been in and out of correctional facilities, and the pair are no longer together.
After the sentence was carried out, Monica seems to have married another man, whereas Caleb moved to another town about two hours away.
Neither seem to have been able to avoid the mistakes of their past.
Court records show that Caleb was in and out of jail for probation violations, traffic charges, and more.
In early 2026, he was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing and mischief.
Monica has suffered a similar decline, as detailed by recent police mugshots.
Locals have reported that she is homeless and has been struggling with addiction.
One shelter worker said: “She is always in the streets with old shoes. She is really psychosis [sic]. She never wants a clean outfit,
“I wish we can help her. I know her story. It is very sad.
“It is true it happened. She never knew him. She birthed him and he was gone. It is a tragic story."
“He was birthed and then gone and 18 years he shows up finds his biological mother and they fell in love and that is what it is.
“Through the years I am sure she has been emotionally beat up.”
She continued: “She is not coherently here. Does she want help?
“I will ask her. She will smirk. She is stoic but there is nothing there.”
Monica’s sister also said: “She's doing bad. She's really high on drugs,
“I feel bad. I worry about her everyday. I pray for her everyday.”
