Monica Mares, a resident of New Mexico, and her son, Caleb, have found themselves at the center of a controversial case involving their incestuous relationship. The pair, who were estranged for nearly two decades, met in person after Caleb, now 19, sought to connect with his birth mother through Facebook.
Mares gave birth to Caleb when she was just 16 years old. Shortly after, she made the difficult decision to place him for adoption. For the next twenty years, they had no contact until Caleb decided to reach out to her. Their communication progressed over several weeks, culminating in a face-to-face meeting around Christmas time.
During their first meeting, Mares disclosed her feelings to Caleb, describing them as “crazy.” She stated, “I’m sorry I don’t know how you are going to react to this. I’m your mum and you’re my son, but I’m falling in love with you.” To her surprise, Caleb expressed that he felt the same way.
Within weeks, Caleb moved in with Mares, and their relationship quickly became sexual. Initially, they attempted to keep their relationship private. However, suspicions from neighbors led to police involvement following a reported argument. Investigators uncovered the nature of their relationship, which led to both Mares and Caleb being arrested and charged under New Mexico law, where incest is classified as a fourth-degree felony.
Following their arrest, they were released on bail but prohibited from any contact with each other. Mares has since revealed that she has received numerous death threats and warnings about the consequences she may face if convicted. Despite this, she maintains that her love for Caleb is worth the sacrifice. “If they lock me up for love then they lock me up,” she stated. “There is no way anybody could pull us apart, and I really do love him.”
Caleb has shared his perspective on the situation, stating he never viewed Mares as a mother in the traditional sense. “I never had anyone cook me meals or give me anything,” he explained. He emphasized that their relationship felt normal to him, likening it to meeting someone new at a social event. “It was more like going to a club and meeting a random person. It didn’t feel wrong; it felt normal.”
While some specialists have raised concerns about the power dynamics in such relationships—especially those involving a parent and a child—Mares dismisses these warnings. She believes that had she raised Caleb herself, their current relationship would likely not have developed. “It felt like I met somebody new and fell in love with him,” she remarked.
The case has sparked significant media attention and raised ethical questions about familial relationships. As the story unfolds, both Mares and Caleb continue to assert their commitment to each other, despite the legal and social challenges they face.
