SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- The mother of a 9-year-old boy who was stabbed to death by his father in San Jose's Cataldi Park spoke out Tuesday about her son and his father's mental health.
James was an empathetic and "extraordinary child" who attended Brooktree Elementary School, his mother, Sandra Rencontre, said. He loved cats, Minecraft, soccer, and cheering for the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants baseball teams, she said.
Rencontre told KRON4, "He was so smart: emotionally intelligent beyond his years. He knew how much I loved him, and I'll never have to regret not telling him that enough." James was her only child, family members said.
Photographs of James when he was younger are shown. (Photos courtesy GoFundMe)James' father, 48-year-old Mateusz Dzierbun of Fremont, hid his mental health struggles and an undiagnosed mental illness, family members said. "James' father hid his illness well. We wish anyone could have foreseen this situation, but there was no way any of us could have known," James' aunt wrote.
Dzierbun was shot to death by police officers on July 13 as officers attempted to save the boy in Cataldi Park, San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said. "There is no known or understandable explanation for what could possess a father to take the life of his own son, especially in such a violent manner,” Joseph said.
The police chief described Dzierbun as a "deranged father" who committed an "unfathomable act of violence."
On July 13, a warm Sunday afternoon, the father and son went to Cataldi Park. The father made a "hysterical" 911 call reporting that someone was stabbing his young son, Joseph said.
Mateusz Dzierbun is seen in a California driver's license photo released by SJPD.When officers arrived in the park, Dzierbun was hunched over his son’s body, he was covered in blood, and he was holding a large kitchen knife above his head, police said. The father’s twisted plan was to murder his own son, and then "lure" officers to the scene to kill him, according to the police chief.
"Detectives believed the suspect murdered his child in the park and called police in order to force a deadly confrontation," Sgt. Jorge Garibay wrote. After SJPD officers fatally shot the father, they ran toward the bleeding 9-year-old boy to help him. Tragically, the child was already deceased, Joseph said.
Cataldi Park is located in a quiet neighborhood on the north end of San Jose. Tennis courts, children's playgrounds, and picnic tables are surrounded by grassy areas shaded by trees.
Cataldi Park (KRON4 Photo)Chief Joseph, who is a 33-year law enforcement veteran, said the boy’s death in Cataldi Park was one of the most disturbing incidents he’s ever seen. "I don’t ever remember a parent murdering a child so brutally," he said.
James' grieving mother told KRON4, "My whole world has shattered in a single moment."
Earlier in James' short lifetime, Dzierbun was a loving father, Rencontre said. Dzierbun did not have any prior criminal history in Santa Clara and Alameda counties, police confirmed.
Rencontre said her family is searching for understanding in the midst of tragedy.
James' mother told KRON4, "I feel it is important to acknowledge a reality that is too often overlooked and often misunderstood: the role of undiagnosed mental illness. While I cannot speak to his father’s state of mind at the time of the incident, I can say that he was once a loving and devoted father. I believe we must confront the reality that mental illness, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can have devastating consequences. While nothing can justify his actions, I wanted to bring an awareness and accountability to everyone."
Rencontre said she hopes that by speaking out, conversations can drive change and prevent another tragedy. She wrote, "If you feel a shift in your energy, please seek help. If you don’t understand why you are having particular feelings, please seek help. This message is not only for those directly affected, but to a society which too often falls short when it comes to recognizing and treating mental illnesses. We all must listen more carefully, respond more urgently, and love more fiercely in order to support or recognize when someone around us is struggling silently."
The mother said she wants her son to be remembered joy, love, laughter, and silliness he brought into the world around him. James' aunt wrote, "My sister loved James so much, their bond was truly special."
A funeral for the 9-year-old boy will be held Thursday. A GoFundMe page is raising donations for James' funeral services, as well as supporting his grieving mother.
Chief Joseph said, "There are no words to ease the horror of this tragedy. The San Jose Police Department grieves alongside the victim's family and our community, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to finding answers in the wake of this senseless act of violence."
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