Isidro Garcia, 41, who's been arrested on charges of kidnapping and rape

In 2007 Garcia is said to have made the woman marry him, using documents he obtained from Mexico, and he later forced her to bear a child, a daughter, born in 2012.

He moved the family on several occasions to avoid detection.

Neighbours of the pair recall them attending church and holding parties together, indicating just how strong an emotional hold the woman's alleged captor had over her.

At a press conference, Corporal Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department told reporters Garcia had "brainwashed" her.

It's not known how the woman summoned the courage to contact police earlier this week, but the move was preceded by her reaching out to her sister on Facebook. Her sister is said to have told her that their mother had been searching for her using a Spanish language newspaper and television station.

The fate of the woman's daughter is not known at this point.

Missing US woman found after 10 years in captivity