Caleb Peterson is a 19-year-old from New Mexico who's in love with his 36-year-old mother, Monica Mares. They say they're experiencing what's known as Genetic Sexual Attraction, or GSA. And they're willing to go to jail rather than end their relationship.
When Mares was 16, she gave birth to Peterson and put him up for adoption, but they reconnected around Christmas 2015 after getting in touch through Facebook. One thing led to another, and they developed a romantic attraction that quickly became physical. Mares claims that Peterson is the best thing that's ever happened to her, and that she'd really like to be with him forever. She even claims she would choose him over her eight other children. Because, you know, priorities. However, Mares' two youngest children reportedly loved having Peterson around, and the youngest even started callng him "dad."
An altercation between the family and some neighbors outside their mobile home ultimately gave away their relationship (which had been kept a secret until then), and the couple was charged with fourth-degree felony for incest in New Mexico. They were given a no-contact order—which they obviously breached—were arraigned, and are now being forced to live separately, with Mares being forbidden to see any of her children.
"It is every bit worth it," Mares told Daily Mail Online in an exclusive interview. "If they lock me up for love then they lock me up. There is no way anybody could pull us apart, and I really do love him. It hurts he is far away. It hurts really bad. I wish I could see him, talk to him, but I can't risk it."
They will face a trial by jury in September, and are also facing extreme backash from their community, including death threats and harrassment. One of their supporters is Cristina Shy, an advocate for related couples who runs the website www.lilysgardener.com.
"It was the same with gay people just a few years ago and now they can get married they are accepted," Shy told Daily Mail Online in defense of Mares's and Peterson's relationship. "Well why not consanguinamorous people like us? We are all adults. We are not pedophiles, there's no domestic issue, we are in love, we want to be together but we are related. That shouldn't be a deciding factor."
They're hoping to raise enough money to get a high-profile attorney and take the case all the way to the Supreme Court if need be.
So, yeah. That happened.
