Ronald Eric Salazar

Case record: Ronald Eric Salazar

Background

Ronald Eric Salazar was 14 when police said he killed his 11-year-old sister in July 2005. He was later 19 at the time of his conviction.

Ronald Eric Salazar had been committed to a psychiatric hospital for treatment after a Department of Children & Families caseworker reported his father’s fear that Ronald would “come back to the home and kill all of them” if he was sent to a residential program. A psychiatrist ruled he was not suicidal and released him back to his parents.

In May 2005, the Department of Children & Families received a report that Samuel Salazar was verbally and physically abusing his son, Ronald. The report also indicated that Ronald was abusing one of his sisters and had threatened to kill himself. The report said the father was hitting Ronald with a belt and “with his hands. . . . The father will come up behind Ronald and slap him.” It also said that Ronald was “VERY DEPRESSED” and that “two weeks ago he tried to kill himself by putting a knife up to his chest,” and that Ronald told an investigator “he didn't care if he lives or he dies.”

A sister told a caseworker that Ronald “marked up her neck by holding her down and choking her.” The report stated that “The child stated Ronald gets mad a lot, slams doors and hits people,” and that “When Ronald became violent, the family will normally start to pray.” The report also said that even Ronald’s parents were afraid of the boy.

In an interview July 13, Ronald’s father told DCF that Ronald said “he will come back to the home and kill all of them” if the state sent him to a residential program.

A paid consultant warned the Department of Children and Families in June 2005 that the agency was leaving children in harm’s way by recommending services but failing to follow up on their well-being.

Gov. Bush declined comment on the state’s handling of the case, sent condolences to the family, and said state officials “can't access” DCF’s files on the investigation, therefore preventing his office from evaluating the agency’s performance. He stated: “By law, for good reason, this information is confidential.” He also said: “What a tragedy, and, for the family, my heart goes out to them,” and “Someone may have leaked this information, and if they did, it's against the law.”

The offence

Ronald Eric Salazar was accused of raping and killing his younger sister. Police said the killing was sparked by an argument in the siblings’ South Miami Heights home.

Police said Marina Salazar’s body was found in her bedroom shortly after 8 a.m. in a pool of blood. Police said she had been strangled and her throat was cut. The address given for the home was 11945 SW 173rd Ter. in South Miami Heights.

Prosecutors said that when he was 14, Salazar was methodical when he raped and strangled his 11-year-old sister, slit her throat, and then covered her body in a Winnie the Pooh comforter.

Investigation

Ronald Eric Salazar initially told his father and investigators that two men broke into the home and tried to rob the family. Police said he later confessed that he killed his sister.

Detective Chris Stroze of the Miami-Dade Police Department testified about the assault. He said: “She started to struggle. She was trying to get away, and she wasn't able to break free of him. Eventually, she stopped moving,”

Detective Chris Stroze also described the circumstances of the struggle, and police said the incident occurred after an argument.

Investigators found the girl’s lifeless body in her bedroom, where Ronald claimed he saw two intruders who committed the crime. But his story changed, and investigators said Ronald eventually confessed.

In his taped confession, Ronald was asked by an investigator, “What did you decide you would do with your sister?” Ronald answered, “Kill her,”

Police said Ronald had been committed to a psychiatric hospital less than a month before the arrest. The psychiatric hospital release followed a psychiatrist’s ruling that Ronald was not suicidal.

Arrest

Miami-Dade police arrested Ronald Eric Salazar at his parents’ South Miami Heights home on first-degree murder charges after police said he confessed to choking his 11-year-old sister, Marina Estefani Salazar, and slitting her throat.

The home location where police said the arrest occurred was described as South Miami Heights.

Trial

South Florida jurors rejected an insanity plea from Salazar.

After two hours of deliberations, a Miami-Dade jury found 19-year-old Ronald Eric Salazar guilty of first-degree murder and sexual battery.

The defense said Salazar was insane at the time of the killing and said he was driven insane by parents who abandoned him to poverty for more than a decade in his native El Salvador, then smuggled him to Miami where he felt unloved by his family.

Following Salazar’s conviction, he immediately received sentencing.

During the trial, the lead detective testified in court. Detective Chris Stroze said: “She started to struggle. Eventually, she stopped moving,”

The trial included testimony that Salazar had confessed to killing his sister. After the taped confession, the defense placed the case in the context of a claim of insanity.

On Friday, Salazar’s tearful mother took the stand for his defense as he looked on. Attorneys planned to bring in mental health experts to testify Monday.

Sentencing

Immediately following Salazar’s conviction, the judge sentenced the teen to two life terms.

The sentencing date given was October 20, 2009.

Appeals

No appeal information was included.

Outcome

A Miami-Dade jury rejected Salazar’s insanity plea and found him guilty of first-degree murder and sexual battery involving his 11-year-old sister.

Aftermath

After the conviction, sentencing was imposed as two life terms.

Circuit Judge Lester Langer had earlier ordered Salazar detained without bond until an Aug. 30 hearing and ordered him held in a juvenile lockup for 30 days while prosecutors sought an indictment from a grand jury. The judge ordered close observation to prevent a possible suicide attempt.

Assistant State Attorney Shana Belyeu said the state was considering charging the youth in adult court. Judge Lester Langer said the measures were necessary “to protect this young man in the event he goes into crisis.”

Ronald Eric Salazar’s lead detective testified in court, and the prosecution relied on his confession and the circumstances of the killing.

Ronald Eric Salazar had earlier been committed to a psychiatric hospital evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act after becoming disruptive and “out of control” at the Miami juvenile lockup, according to sources.

Other details

Ronald Eric Salazar’s victim was Marina Salazar, described as 11 years old.

Police said Ronald’s younger brother was also present in the home: an 8-year-old brother was left with Ronald and Marina when the father took another child to school.

Police said Ronald initially told authorities about two men breaking into the house. Samuel Salazar later said he did not believe the story and told police: “Grab my son. Don't let him go. It hurts me in my heart. Grab him,” said Samuel Salazar.

Miami-Dade Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said: “When Samuel Salazar came home he found Ronald in a neighbor's yard, police said.”

A neighbor, Sandra Morris, said: “It has to be somebody the family knows that did this,” and “It can't be a stranger.”

Lola Johnson, Marina Salazar’s fifth-grade teacher at Miami Heights Elementary, said: “Marina was an exceptional little girl,” and “She was just a flower, she was just lovely.”

The teacher also said Marina did not mention her siblings: “She never talked about them,” Johnson said.

The local reporting described that Ronald had been committed to a hospital for psychological evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act two weeks earlier and was released after a psychiatrist ruled that Ronald was not suicidal, and that he was charged with first-degree murder.

The “THE STORY SO FAR” timeline included:

• May 17: the Department of Children & Families received a report that Samuel Salazar was verbally and physically abusing his son, Ronald; the report also indicated that Ronald was abusing one of his sisters and had threatened to kill himself; DCF opened an investigation.
• June 2005: state-paid consultant warned Miami child-welfare administrators they were leaving children in harm's way by handing out brochures for services and failing to follow up with families.
• July 13: a state social worker visited the Salazar home; Ronald was committed to a hospital for an evaluation after he allegedly admitted he had a knife under his pillow and threatened to kill a social worker; the hospital released Ronald after about four hours deeming him “healthy,” according to the family.
• July 15: DCF officials closed their probe, concluding Ronald was not a threat to his siblings; caseworkers recommended voluntary counseling, which the Salazars said they were trying to arrange.
• July 25: Ronald told police he choked his sister, Marina, and slit her throat; he was arrested on charges of first-degree murder.
• July 26: Circuit Judge Lester Langer ordered Ronald detained for 30 days in a juvenile lockup while prosecutors sought an indictment from a grand jury; Assistant State Attorney Shana Belyeu said the state was considering charging the youth in adult court; Langer ordered the youth to be under close observation or suicide watch; Langer said the measures were necessary “to protect this young man in the event he goes into crisis.”