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Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder
AN ABUSIVE MOTHER
Raised in the suburb of Riverside, California, twenty-year-old college student Jason Bautista endured for years his emotionally disturbed mother's verbal and psychological abuse. She even locked him out of the house, tied him up with electrical cord, and on one occasion, gave him a beating that sent him to the emergency room. His fifteen-year-old half brother Matthew Montejo also was a victim to Jane Bautista's dark mood swings and erratic behavior, but for some reason, Jason received the brunt of the abuse―until he decided he'd had enough…
A SON'S REVENGE
On the night of January 14, 2003, Jason strangled his mother. To keep authorities from identifying her body, he chopped off her head and hands, an idea he claimed he got from watching an episode of the hit TV series "The Sopranos." Matthew would later testify in court that he sat in another room in the house with the TV volume turned up while Jason murdered their mother. He also testified that he drove around with Jason to find a place to dump Jane's torso.
A CRIME THAT WOULD BOND TWO BROTHERS
The morning following the murder, Matthew went to school, and Jason returned to his classes at Cal State San Bernardino. When authorities zeroed in on them, Jason lied and said that Jane had run off with a boyfriend she'd met on the Internet. But when police confronted the boys with overwhelming evidence, Jason confessed all. Now the nightmare was only just beginning for him…
Raised in the suburb of Riverside, California, twenty-year-old college student Jason Bautista endured for years his emotionally disturbed mother's verbal and psychological abuse. She even locked him out of the house, tied him up with electrical cord, and on one occasion, gave him a beating that sent him to the emergency room. His fifteen-year-old half brother Matthew Montejo also was a victim to Jane Bautista's dark mood swings and erratic behavior, but for some reason, Jason received the brunt of the abuse―until he decided he'd had enough…
A SON'S REVENGE
On the night of January 14, 2003, Jason strangled his mother. To keep authorities from identifying her body, he chopped off her head and hands, an idea he claimed he got from watching an episode of the hit TV series "The Sopranos." Matthew would later testify in court that he sat in another room in the house with the TV volume turned up while Jason murdered their mother. He also testified that he drove around with Jason to find a place to dump Jane's torso.
A CRIME THAT WOULD BOND TWO BROTHERS
The morning following the murder, Matthew went to school, and Jason returned to his classes at Cal State San Bernardino. When authorities zeroed in on them, Jason lied and said that Jane had run off with a boyfriend she'd met on the Internet. But when police confronted the boys with overwhelming evidence, Jason confessed all. Now the nightmare was only just beginning for him…
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 15, 2011
I took a particular interest in this one because Jason Bautista went to my high school and was friends with one of my friends. One of my best friends also had Chemistry class with Jason. Imagine our horror when we heard about this on the news? Note: My high school in the book is actually spelled wrong.
This one is a fast and interesting read. I could not put the book down. In fact, I read it in one day. It is sad because I believe that if the mother's mental illness had been treated, this tragedy would not have happened. Jason Bautista was a very smart person who had the potential to get out of this unlucky situation . He just made the wrong decision. Jane Bautista's (victim) grandparents were well off. Jane Bautista's grandmother was sending her money to pay for bills and rent. It's so unfortunate that they did not realize that Jane was delving deeper and deeper into mental illness and in serious risk. Otherwise, perhaps they could have financed her psychiatric treatment as well. I was also disheartened that the grandparents & parents were initially supportive of Jason Bautista's legal defense. However, once they realized how much money it was going to cost them, they didn't support Jason financially, even though I believed they had the funds.
The author succeeds in portraying Jane as the schizophrenic paranoid. The character development was effecient and because the author gave insight on Jane Bautista's past, it was easy for me not to judge her as pure evil. It was just an unfortunate tragedy for everyone involved. I recommended this book.
This one is a fast and interesting read. I could not put the book down. In fact, I read it in one day. It is sad because I believe that if the mother's mental illness had been treated, this tragedy would not have happened. Jason Bautista was a very smart person who had the potential to get out of this unlucky situation . He just made the wrong decision. Jane Bautista's (victim) grandparents were well off. Jane Bautista's grandmother was sending her money to pay for bills and rent. It's so unfortunate that they did not realize that Jane was delving deeper and deeper into mental illness and in serious risk. Otherwise, perhaps they could have financed her psychiatric treatment as well. I was also disheartened that the grandparents & parents were initially supportive of Jason Bautista's legal defense. However, once they realized how much money it was going to cost them, they didn't support Jason financially, even though I believed they had the funds.
The author succeeds in portraying Jane as the schizophrenic paranoid. The character development was effecient and because the author gave insight on Jane Bautista's past, it was easy for me not to judge her as pure evil. It was just an unfortunate tragedy for everyone involved. I recommended this book.
January 30, 2023
A sad, but well written book. It's fairly short and fast-paced, but I don't feel like anything was skipped. I think we got enough information about the case and I'm glad it was all understandable and not overwhelming.
The narrator was chosen wonderfully too, and her narration almost made this seem like a fictional book by how much effort she put into setting the scene, making everyone sound unique etc.
The narrator was chosen wonderfully too, and her narration almost made this seem like a fictional book by how much effort she put into setting the scene, making everyone sound unique etc.
March 18, 2022
A sad story about a murder of an abusive mother. Rather shocking how many people knew the woman was unreliable, struggling with mental health issues (neighbors, police, coaches, family) but nobody ever seemed to think it appropriate to make sure that her two kids were okay. Finally the oldest killed her. People ask how could he do that, why didn't he reach out for help, etc.— but it really looks like he was never offered any help or ever was given the notion that help was out there for the asking. And of course it is also horrific that he killed his mother. Some of the jury members were in tears.
Having finished the book I wondered where exactly the details were coming from. The younger brother was a prosecution witness and the jury did not believe his account; yet it is this account which the author seemed to rely on. I would have appreciated an acknowledgment in the narrative where the story was coming from: the accused? the co-accused brother turned prosecution witness? experts? Makes the narrative less tidy, of course, but this messy tragedy was never meant to be tidy.
Having finished the book I wondered where exactly the details were coming from. The younger brother was a prosecution witness and the jury did not believe his account; yet it is this account which the author seemed to rely on. I would have appreciated an acknowledgment in the narrative where the story was coming from: the accused? the co-accused brother turned prosecution witness? experts? Makes the narrative less tidy, of course, but this messy tragedy was never meant to be tidy.
September 19, 2024
This is the shocking true story of matricide.
What makes this even more shocking to me is the fact that, despite knowing that things were not right with this mother, nobody (even her own wealthy family) did anything to get help for her obvious mental illness.
It could have all been so different if they had.
What makes this even more shocking to me is the fact that, despite knowing that things were not right with this mother, nobody (even her own wealthy family) did anything to get help for her obvious mental illness.
It could have all been so different if they had.
January 8, 2009
This is a terrible true-crime book. The writing is terrible; mercifully, it is short. The author spends the first half of the book outlining the terrible abuse two boys endured at the hands of their paranoid schizophrenic mother and then spends the last half lambasting them for murdering her. She could have at least explored the idea that the abuse played some role in their horrific act.
January 18, 2010
This is a true case of how mental illness can affect a family. Could an intervention taken place before this family fell apart. I say yes. It shows how turning a blind eye to every red flag before you can lead to disaster. All the signs were there, to family and friends, yet no one took any action to save the children. This was a preventable crime right from the beginning. It makes you angry that not one person reached out. You ask why. I have learned from this book that mental illness should not be hidden away but recognized for what it is and for God's sake DO SOMETHING. These boys should have had a chance to live a life most of us enjoy. But because no one intercepted they were doomed from birth. After reading reviews from other readers of this book I felt compelled to edit my review. The other readers seem to be focused on the crime rather than the possible cause of it. I see this as a book that can enlighten us to the need to address mental illness rather than address a crime that was a victim of it.
September 3, 2022
This was an interesting true crime case yet I grew tired of reading it. A lot of the mental health issues and paranoia felt taxing and a little repetitive, although I understand the obvious significance.
March 21, 2016
I was very surprised by this book. loved it. Felt like I knew the people involved.
February 16, 2011
This True Crime novel of Jason and Matthew's killing of their mother is an interesting one. Dirman gets you on the boy's side for the entire beginning of the novel and you yourself would understand why someone would want to kill the woman they call mom. She abuses them, belittles them, and lets her schizophrenia take control. The entire time you wonder why no on intervenes with the rearing of these two boys. Then as the madness becomes too much Jason decides the only way to get rid of her is to kill her. Matthew goes along with it but doesn't commit to helping in anyway whatsoever. After killing her, Jason disposes the body a way he sees in the latest Sopranos episode by cutting off her head and hands. Matthew helps him as he goes off to dispose of the body, leaving the head and hands in the hall closet of their apartment. Towards the end, as Jason lies more and as you see another side of both of the boys you begin to question how you felt in the beginning. You begin to wonder if they were really so abused and if they ever abused back. It is a really easy read and keeps you interested.
September 20, 2008
on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 I wrote about this book:
Just finished it a few seconds ago (It is Tuesday September 16-2008 12.44.)
Quick read but what a sad case. You could feel that the author sided with the 2 boys. She was looking for excuses for both of them, but especially for Jason. Not that it did bother me.
All in all a good read. 8.5
Just finished it a few seconds ago (It is Tuesday September 16-2008 12.44.)
Quick read but what a sad case. You could feel that the author sided with the 2 boys. She was looking for excuses for both of them, but especially for Jason. Not that it did bother me.
All in all a good read. 8.5
September 21, 2019
Oh boy, there was a lot to unpack here. Going into this story, I was horrified that a mother had been killed by her sons, completely prepared to withhold any form of empathy for them, without any understanding of what their lives were like leading up to the murder. I quickly realized this wasn’t about two spoiled kids who killed their mom because she wouldn’t give them what they wanted, or for insurance money, or any of the myriad reasons you see in the headlines of evil children killing their parents. This is a complicated tale of abuse, mental illness, and the consequences of ignoring both.
I felt the background on Jane Bautista was well researched and fascinating. Her days of inflicting abuse on others due to her illness started young by beating her mother. She came from a very private family who didn’t like to draw attention to themselves, so everyone just ignored her deteriorating condition. She unfortunately went on to marry and have children. Police were called to her residence numerous times over the years due to her hallucinations and outbursts. Many reviewers are outraged that her family never got her help or tried to get the kids taken away, but I’m particularly shocked that police knew she was crazy, even joked about it, and never once thought to get the kids out of that situation?! I felt like there was gross negligence on their part as well.
The last third of the book details the trial and sentencing of the two boys. After a lifetime of physical, emotional abuse and forced homelessness, Jason kills his mother in a gruesome way, and his brother helps with disposal. I’m not sure why the defense didn’t rely more on the fact that he was horribly abused for years, including Jane threatening to kill him, and probably suffered from a mental illness of his own.
The DA and prosecution acted like Jason should have just gotten over it and moved on with his life. I couldn’t help but wonder, if battered women’s syndrome is understood to keep women in abusive situations for fear of being killed if they leave their abuser, why couldn’t this be similar for Jason? His upbringing was quite a bit more heinous than simply growing up with a poor, fragile, mentally ill mother who simply made his life inconvenient. The DA celebrated the sentencing, stating Jane was the “real victim,” but honestly, there were multiple victims in this tragic crime.
Overall I felt the book was enthralling, especially the background portion, and did a good job building up to how the events came to pass. The ending ultimately left me feeling conflicted, frustrated and unsatisfied with how the trial was handled.
I felt the background on Jane Bautista was well researched and fascinating. Her days of inflicting abuse on others due to her illness started young by beating her mother. She came from a very private family who didn’t like to draw attention to themselves, so everyone just ignored her deteriorating condition. She unfortunately went on to marry and have children. Police were called to her residence numerous times over the years due to her hallucinations and outbursts. Many reviewers are outraged that her family never got her help or tried to get the kids taken away, but I’m particularly shocked that police knew she was crazy, even joked about it, and never once thought to get the kids out of that situation?! I felt like there was gross negligence on their part as well.
The last third of the book details the trial and sentencing of the two boys. After a lifetime of physical, emotional abuse and forced homelessness, Jason kills his mother in a gruesome way, and his brother helps with disposal. I’m not sure why the defense didn’t rely more on the fact that he was horribly abused for years, including Jane threatening to kill him, and probably suffered from a mental illness of his own.
The DA and prosecution acted like Jason should have just gotten over it and moved on with his life. I couldn’t help but wonder, if battered women’s syndrome is understood to keep women in abusive situations for fear of being killed if they leave their abuser, why couldn’t this be similar for Jason? His upbringing was quite a bit more heinous than simply growing up with a poor, fragile, mentally ill mother who simply made his life inconvenient. The DA celebrated the sentencing, stating Jane was the “real victim,” but honestly, there were multiple victims in this tragic crime.
Overall I felt the book was enthralling, especially the background portion, and did a good job building up to how the events came to pass. The ending ultimately left me feeling conflicted, frustrated and unsatisfied with how the trial was handled.
January 1, 2013
This was an interesting read and I was interested in the story (although I have no idea if the author really did get facts wrong or not) but at times the book could have used a little more depth to it. The story was focused to much around facts in some parts and not enough to get you to embrace the book. I hope that makes sense. If you are a lover of True Crime then you may like this if you only like it every now and again type thing I would pass up on this one. You could probably get the story in a shorter version on the internet.
January 23, 2016
This was OK, but not spectacular. There were so many areas I wish the author had gone into more deeply. A few in-depth juror interviews would have been great, for instance, along with some serious heart-to-hearts with the defendants in the case.
January 6, 2024
Yeah, an episode of the Sopranos definitely caused a child to murder, and definitely not the lifetime of abuse he suffered.
He absolutely shouldn’t be in jail. His grandparents should, and probably his stepfather. And are we sure his dad’s suicide wasn’t a murder?
He absolutely shouldn’t be in jail. His grandparents should, and probably his stepfather. And are we sure his dad’s suicide wasn’t a murder?
August 29, 2021
This story is so heartwrenching and upsetting.
As someone who works in the field of mental health, the failure that this whole family suffered from is so angering.
The writing of this book is really well done and provokes a lot of emotion. I feel that there wasn't a bias, it told the story from everyone's perspective: from the boys who suffered a life with a severe paranoid schizophrenic mother, to Jane who had to live with such a terrifying illness.
It hurts to know that so many people failed in protecting this family.
The story of the trial adds a lot of questions into Jason's own mental state and its interesting to wonder if this was due to his upbringing and how this impacted his sentencing.
As someone who works in the field of mental health, the failure that this whole family suffered from is so angering.
The writing of this book is really well done and provokes a lot of emotion. I feel that there wasn't a bias, it told the story from everyone's perspective: from the boys who suffered a life with a severe paranoid schizophrenic mother, to Jane who had to live with such a terrifying illness.
It hurts to know that so many people failed in protecting this family.
The story of the trial adds a lot of questions into Jason's own mental state and its interesting to wonder if this was due to his upbringing and how this impacted his sentencing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
This is a very old true crime story. Not sure how it landed on my list of books to read but it is a fascinating story, reminiscent of the Menendez case.
The author spends most of the book building the case that the Mother was an abusive, mentally ill person and when she was murdered, there was very little support for the sons. I’m not suggesting murder is acceptable or forgivable. I would hope there would be more resources available today to avoid such a tragedy.
I would have liked to hear more about the boys after the trial. It felt like an abrupt and unfinished ending to me.
The author spends most of the book building the case that the Mother was an abusive, mentally ill person and when she was murdered, there was very little support for the sons. I’m not suggesting murder is acceptable or forgivable. I would hope there would be more resources available today to avoid such a tragedy.
I would have liked to hear more about the boys after the trial. It felt like an abrupt and unfinished ending to me.
September 30, 2025
The amount of people who witnessed the abuse of the boys, mental, physical, emotional- and did nothing to intervene; is beyond shocking
How tragic this entire case is. It also begs the question, just how like his mother was Jason.
How tragic this entire case is. It also begs the question, just how like his mother was Jason.
August 28, 2022
It was a great book. I would have like if there had been maybe a psychiatrist opinion about the issues the mother had. But overall a really great book.
August 5, 2024
Really interesting; the book really gripped me and I felt like I was a part of this story at times. A challenging time for these boys, you could really feel for the position they were in and I felt like these boys were let down by so many people who could have helped them. While I understand what they did was so wrong, I can also see why they felt so trapped. Very torn on this one on who was in the wrong. I feel the family of the mother should have bared some of this blame. They were good boys, they were not even given a chance at a normal life. Very sad indeed.
July 21, 2024
I generally like these types of books. This author didn't really catch my attention and I felt like there was more. This was like reading a newspaper article about things. It is a horrible tragedy that a woman so mentally ill is ignored and finally killed by her son. If only someone would have stepped in to help her.
January 1, 2013
This true crime story is written better than most.
Tina Dirmann has written a very sad story of two boys growing up with a mother whose descent into madness is chronicled in some detail. A volatile teenager, she beat her own mother at the age of seventeen- a sure sign that her turbulent teenage years were beyond the norm. Unable or unwilling to help their daughter, her parents basically washed their hands of her. After the suicidal ending of her first marriage (there is room for speculation that she actually shot her husband), she becomes involved with another man and had a second child. The second husband leaves because he cannot tolerate her violent outbursts. Jane Bautista, alone with her two boys, becomes increasingly tortured with paranoid delusions and subjects the children (especially Jason, the older one) to constant belittling, threats, physical punishment and constant moving from place to place to escape the "bugs" put into the houses to spy on her every move. At one point, the three lived in their car, alternating with cheap hotels for a year and a half, because of her paranoia. Jane never worked, but lived on Jason's Social Security, and regular checks from her grandmother.
Tragically, although police in many jurisdictions were called because of her paranoid delusions, and several neighbors reported strange behavior, only one person ever called social services. When Jane shouted for the Social Worker to leave, she did - no follow up ever occurred.
The greatest tragedy however, was that when the boys couldn't take it any longer, Jason killed Jane after provoking a fit of rage, and both boys participated in dumping her body. They were arrested and Jason is serving a long sentence. Matt, the younger brother spent time in juvenile detention. Jason had finished High School with high grades and was studying biochemistry in college at the time, while he also held a full time job. A sad ending to a bright future.
Although the crime was indeed heinous and "unthinkable" I doubt any of the jurors could have imagined what it would have been like to grow up in a single parent household, when that parent is severely mentally ill! The boys had little opportunity for normal socializing (she restricted them severely from making friends and social situations.) They did not have a clear picture of the resources that may have been available to them.
Where were her parents?, the police (who reported that she was crazy, but didn't think it was a problem for the boys!!!) her grandmother? her neighbors? I blame the adults who should have been there for Jane and gotten the help she so badly needed. This is a murder that needn't have happened.
Tina Dirmann has written a very sad story of two boys growing up with a mother whose descent into madness is chronicled in some detail. A volatile teenager, she beat her own mother at the age of seventeen- a sure sign that her turbulent teenage years were beyond the norm. Unable or unwilling to help their daughter, her parents basically washed their hands of her. After the suicidal ending of her first marriage (there is room for speculation that she actually shot her husband), she becomes involved with another man and had a second child. The second husband leaves because he cannot tolerate her violent outbursts. Jane Bautista, alone with her two boys, becomes increasingly tortured with paranoid delusions and subjects the children (especially Jason, the older one) to constant belittling, threats, physical punishment and constant moving from place to place to escape the "bugs" put into the houses to spy on her every move. At one point, the three lived in their car, alternating with cheap hotels for a year and a half, because of her paranoia. Jane never worked, but lived on Jason's Social Security, and regular checks from her grandmother.
Tragically, although police in many jurisdictions were called because of her paranoid delusions, and several neighbors reported strange behavior, only one person ever called social services. When Jane shouted for the Social Worker to leave, she did - no follow up ever occurred.
The greatest tragedy however, was that when the boys couldn't take it any longer, Jason killed Jane after provoking a fit of rage, and both boys participated in dumping her body. They were arrested and Jason is serving a long sentence. Matt, the younger brother spent time in juvenile detention. Jason had finished High School with high grades and was studying biochemistry in college at the time, while he also held a full time job. A sad ending to a bright future.
Although the crime was indeed heinous and "unthinkable" I doubt any of the jurors could have imagined what it would have been like to grow up in a single parent household, when that parent is severely mentally ill! The boys had little opportunity for normal socializing (she restricted them severely from making friends and social situations.) They did not have a clear picture of the resources that may have been available to them.
Where were her parents?, the police (who reported that she was crazy, but didn't think it was a problem for the boys!!!) her grandmother? her neighbors? I blame the adults who should have been there for Jane and gotten the help she so badly needed. This is a murder that needn't have happened.
October 29, 2015
It's amazing how quickly I read through this. AND I really craved reading it when I wasn't. The author paints a very clear picture of a paranoid schizophrenic and her poor two boys. Let me just say, society and the family failed those boys. The mom should have never been able to have children. She may have been okay when she got pregnant, but the way the story was told, something changed after the birth. She drove a man to suicide, ran another off, and belittled and shamed her oldest son. After years of abuse and NO ONE stepping up for the boys, Jason decides to do something. And the police are pissed that he has no remorse? Would you after you've been cut down, called names, beat on, and bullied? Nope. I know I wouldn't. Jane should have been in an institution, but the children shouldn't be the ones responsible for institutionalizing the mother. The boys' grandparents (and Matthew's father) really failed them. THEY are basically the reason Jane is dead. They refused to see the problem and get their daughter help. They stood by and did nothing when their grandbabies were abused. They chose to NOT call DSS and have their daughter investigated, even. Jane's acquaintances and old friends ALSO failed the children. In society, you have a responsibility that when you see a child being seriously abused (mentally or physically) you STEP UP and do something about it. You don't say it's none of your business. Because the child can be killed or, in this case, the mother is killed. Someone is going to die. It's sad that it had to happen at all. Shame on you society. Shame on you, Jane's family. This is a true story of people failing children. As a result of the failure, one person is dead and two children are scarred for life (and one of those two is in jail for the rest of his life).
January 5, 2025
Abuse breeds monsters. I have always believed this. Now with some serial killers/killers they are just born evil but this case has a lot of physical and emotional abuse that no one stood up for.
It showed in the killer and also the killer’s brother. Does it make their actions justified? No but it does breed a callousness and coldness in which deadly actions take place. I heard this case on a podcast once but the information in this book is pretty good.
Would recommend.
It showed in the killer and also the killer’s brother. Does it make their actions justified? No but it does breed a callousness and coldness in which deadly actions take place. I heard this case on a podcast once but the information in this book is pretty good.
Would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2015
3.5 stars
While not the most interesting true crime book, the author did a very good job painting a picture of the abuse endured by Jason Bautista and, to a much lesser extent, his younger brother. If the reporter who wrote this book had been Jason's attorney, he might have been convicted of manslaughter instead of murder.
I loved that Dirmann didn't spend too much time on the trial - I find the lengthy trial transcripts in a lot of true crime extremely boring - and really gave us great insights into the victim's background as well as the killers.
Honestly, I agree with the prosecutor - the victim's family owns this more than Jason. Why on earth did the family leave those two kids with someone they knew was extremely disturbed? Not to mention the police, social services, teachers, neighbours, etc. They all knew Jane Bautista was dangerously mentally ill, but they did nothing to protect those kids. And now they blame her son for being cold and remorseless? How else would he be after years of abuse?
While not the most interesting true crime book, the author did a very good job painting a picture of the abuse endured by Jason Bautista and, to a much lesser extent, his younger brother. If the reporter who wrote this book had been Jason's attorney, he might have been convicted of manslaughter instead of murder.
I loved that Dirmann didn't spend too much time on the trial - I find the lengthy trial transcripts in a lot of true crime extremely boring - and really gave us great insights into the victim's background as well as the killers.
Honestly, I agree with the prosecutor - the victim's family owns this more than Jason. Why on earth did the family leave those two kids with someone they knew was extremely disturbed? Not to mention the police, social services, teachers, neighbours, etc. They all knew Jane Bautista was dangerously mentally ill, but they did nothing to protect those kids. And now they blame her son for being cold and remorseless? How else would he be after years of abuse?
May 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5- This was sad. I mean sad in the way that things got to the point that it did for the boys, for the actions that took place to take place.
This book honestly felt like I was reading a script for a documentary. It was very well told and detailed enough that it was so easy to follow the entire case.
I think that the author spent a good amount on time of each portion of the story. (The childhood of the boys, the moms relationships, the abuse, the murder, the trial etc)
.
.
‼️Potential spoilers‼️
The murder. The dismembering. The disposal of a body. All tragic and horrific, but depicted so well. This story puts into perspective how poor mental health and abuse are tied together at times and unfortunately that when they’re mixed together- terrible things can occur.
.
.
Anywho… if you’re a true crime fan, check this one out!
This book honestly felt like I was reading a script for a documentary. It was very well told and detailed enough that it was so easy to follow the entire case.
I think that the author spent a good amount on time of each portion of the story. (The childhood of the boys, the moms relationships, the abuse, the murder, the trial etc)
.
.
‼️Potential spoilers‼️
The murder. The dismembering. The disposal of a body. All tragic and horrific, but depicted so well. This story puts into perspective how poor mental health and abuse are tied together at times and unfortunately that when they’re mixed together- terrible things can occur.
.
.
Anywho… if you’re a true crime fan, check this one out!
November 29, 2015
True Crime books are often hard to read as they sometimes are just facts slapped on paper and tend to be boring. This account of a very interesting case was easy to read and got me emotionally attached to the story. Those kids lived through hell, there is no denying it. Still, murder is murder, but in this case, it seemed possible to me that it might very well of started out as a self-defense crime and turned into over the top blind rage from one who had been pushed too far for many years. Abuse emotional and physical can do that to you. Just make you snap one day. It would have been a hard case to be a juror on.
October 7, 2023
Such a waste of a life. Jason Bautista just couldn’t win. He choose the worst way possible to put an end to the treatment he had received from his mother from an early age. He had tried to get away but she had undermined his confidence so much that he had to give in and come back. There is more to this story than the evidence suggests. From whose point of view was the story told? There was definitely some parts missing. These children were living on the edge their whole lives. A parent who could be normal and then flip to be the parent from hell. Why did no one help? Lots of people must have known what was going on.
October 16, 2023
Man, this was a hard read. You knew where it was going and it was hard to not completely sympathize with the two sons. Actually, I do completely sympathize with the sons. Their mother mentally abused them their entire lives and regardless of her untreated mental issues, she got what was coming to her. I just hope her sons can eventually try to live lives of freedom someday and become functioning members of society.
November 16, 2023
Second true crime book in a row. This one’s bad guy(s) is not nearly as cut and dry. A 20-year old man murdered and dismembered his mentally ill mother after a lifetime of physical and emotional beatings, and attempted to discard her body with help from his teenage brother.
There are no heroes or real villains in this story; only a small family in great crisis, overlooked by just about everyone. A real shame.
There are no heroes or real villains in this story; only a small family in great crisis, overlooked by just about everyone. A real shame.
January 18, 2024
Wow! I'd say that this book has such a fantastic way at explaining what happened. It makes you feel sympathy for both the boys and their mum; it is made clear that she is suffering from her mental health issues
I hadn't heard about this before I found the book, but im glad to have read about it now.
I hadn't heard about this before I found the book, but im glad to have read about it now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews