True Crime

How an Angry Mother Disciplined Her Child to Death

Abuse disguised as “tough love.”

Ronald Gonzales was brought into this world by his mother, Salve Gonzales. Thirteen years later, through inexcusable acts of violence, Salve saw fit to end his life.

What caused this tragedy? Anger, alcohol, and negligence.

Mischief

On September 6, 2009, in Quezon City, Philippines, Salve arrived home from work. She tried to turn on the TV, but the power wasn’t running.

Irked, she quickly investigated and discovered that some necessary wiring in their electrical meter was missing. As it turns out, her thirteen-year-old son Ronald sold it off earlier that day.

No one else was home, so Salve decided to spend the rest of the early evening with friends and alcohol.

She came home drunk. Ronald was also back.

Tough love

Salve asked her two sons why the wires were missing, and Ronald hesitantly admitted that he sold some parts off because he needed money for his school project. This wasn’t a good enough excuse for his drunken mother.

Salve reached for a coat hanger and started to hit Ronald in his extremities and abdomen. Ronald…