Jesusa Tatad

Background

Jesusa Tatad was 41 years old at the time of her sentencing. She had divorced Ronie Tatad, but prosecutors said they still shared an apartment together.

Family members included Ronnie Tatad’s sister, Lilibeth Estes of Ohio, who described the impact of the attack.

Jesusa Tatad had two daughters with Ronie Tatad, and both girls were described as being in the Philippines under the care of Ronie’s relatives.

Ronie Tatad worked as a registered nurse. He was described as having double job and as being believed to be a native of Catanduanes province in the Philippines. He was working at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco.

The offence

Jesusa Tatad poured a pot of boiling water on her sleeping ex-husband, Ronie Tatad, after she waited for him to fall asleep. Prosecutors said Jesusa Tatad believed her ex-husband was cheating on her.

When Ronie Tatad jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom, she hit him on the head with a baseball bat. After the scalding, Ronie Tatad ran out of the apartment complex and flagged down a security guard, who called 911.

In a moment after the scalding and while officers prepared to handcuff her, Jesusa Tatad reportedly admitted to scalding him.

A dispute existed at the time over whether Ronie Tatad’s last statement cast doubt on whether Jesusa Tatad was actually responsible for the attack; police planned to re-interview him about his last statement, though they never got the chance before he died.

Investigation

Ronie Tatad was transported to a local hospital with serious burns. After being taken to San Francisco General Hospital, he remained in critical condition.

The burns were described as covering about 60 percent of his body, and also as about 55 percent of his body. He later died of injuries including a blood infection connected to the burns.

A police spokesman statement described that shortly before the incident Jesusa boiled a pot of water while Ronie was sleeping, and that she poured boiling water on his face and upper part of his body.

Arrest

Jesusa Tatad was held without bail during the trial. She was being held at the San Mateo County Jail during the period leading up to sentencing.

Police planned to re-interview Ronie Tatad about his last statement, but he died before the re-interview could occur.

Trial

Jesusa Tatad pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. She had been set to stand trial on charges of murder, assault, domestic violence, aggravated mayhem and torture before she changed her plea.

She remained in custody without bail during the trial.

At an arraignment, she pleaded not guilty to felony torture (maximum penalty life term in prison with parole), mayhem (life term with parole), assault with deadly weapon (5 years maximum), domestic violence (5 years maximum) and witness dissuasion (5 years maximum).

Morris Maya, a deputy district attorney, dropped other charges as part of a plea deal. The charges dropped included torture and mayhem.

Sentencing

A San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles sentenced Jesusa Tatad to 16 years to life in prison. The sentencing occurred on May 16, 2013.

The sentencing followed her plea of no contest on April 3 to a charge of second-degree murder with an enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon.

During sentencing proceedings, Lilibeth Estes urged Jesusa Tatad to seek a supreme pardon, and called Jesusa Tatad “vile, hateful, selfish” before sentencing.

Jesusa Tatad wept while being shackled and did not respond except for her tears.

Defense attorney John May argued that Jesusa Tatad caused the death of the only man she ever loved and that she wished she could change the outcome of her rash act.

I developed a phobia of water,
Even steam coming from the pans makes me shiver.
Lilibeth Estes

We want to see that you are punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Lilibeth Estes

I hope you start praying for God to have mercy on your soul,
Lilibeth Estes

Mrs. Tatad is no monster,
She wishes deeply she could change the outcome of her rash act.
John May

This is an acknowledgment by her that she caused the death of the only man she ever loved ...
She wished she could change the past but she can't.
John May

He came home later than he was supposed to,
That's all I can say.
John May

Outcome

Jesusa Tatad was convicted of second-degree murder based on her no contest plea and was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.

Aftermath

Ronie Tatad died on Dec. 9 after being treated for burns and complications including a blood infection.

After being doused with boiling water, Ronie Tatad ran across the 200 block of Coronado Street, where he was wet, half-naked, hysterical, and hiding behind a car. An apartment complex maintenance man found him and called for help.

A witness described that after police arrived, skin had begun flaking off his hands in layers. The witness also reported that Ronie Tatad yelled “Stay away from me! Go away!” and later said he did not want Tatad arrested.

Police testimony also included that Ronie Tatad pleaded with police not to arrest Jesusa Tatad.

Stay away from me! Go away!
Ronie Tatad

The burns left his head swollen up like a “basketball,” according to Estes, and his skin oozing.

Sgt. Michael Barton described police receiving a call on Nov. 26 at about 10:50 a.m., and that Ronie was found outside his residence with serious burns and was immediately transported to a local hospital.

Timeline

• Dec. 9 — Ronie Tatad died in hospital after the burns and infection.
• Apr. 3 — Jesusa Tatad pleaded no contest to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement.
• May 16, 2013 — Jesusa Tatad was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.
• May 17, 2013 — Reporting described the sentence as issued “Friday.”
• Dec. 7 — At arraignment, Jesusa Tatad pleaded not guilty to felony torture, mayhem, assault with deadly weapon, domestic violence, and witness dissuasion.
• Dec. 13 — A murder charge was added to the charges against Jesusa during a court appearance.
• Nov. 26, 2011 — Jesusa Tatad doused sleeping Ronie Tatad with boiling water and hit him with a baseball bat; he was later found with serious burns and transported to a hospital.
• Jan. 9, 2012 — Jesusa Tatad was scheduled for arraignment on the murder charge with “plea” and a setting of date for preliminary hearing.

Other details

Jesusa Tatad’s age was given as 39 in connection with trial-related reporting prior to sentencing and as 41 in connection with her plea and sentencing.

Reported burns were described as over 60 percent of his body and also as about 55 percent of his body, and as second- and third-degree burns.

Jesusa Tatad’s apartment was described as a Daly City apartment.

A plea deal resulted in dropped charges including torture and mayhem.

Police said that when an officer at the scene asked Ms Tatad whether she was responsible for the attack, she responded, “Yes, officer.”

Yes, officer.
Jesusa Tatad

During the planning of the investigation, an officer asked questions at the scene and the statement about witness dissuasion was part of the charges at the arraignment.

The trial was tied to the alleged jealousy over another woman.

Jesusa Tatad remained in custody without bail during the trial.