Eva Fridley and John Garner were married in Modesto and moved to Madera in 1890. She was 16, and he was 21.
In 1892, they had two children, and by 1900 ominous clouds of disharmony began to gather — clouds that would in time turn a storm into murder.
In 1901, Eva determined to leave John. She would take their two boys and move to Los Angeles where her mother lived. There she would file for a divorce. Before she could depart, however, John took the children to Mary and William Fridley’s home. Mary was his sister, and William was Eva’s brother.