Officials have revealed that Ashley Pardo is the first person in Bexar County’s history to be charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism. She allegedly helped her 13-year-old son put together a plan to launch a violent assault at his San Antonio middle school.
Court records claim that Pardo purchased multiple items to support her son’s deadly plan, including tactical gear, ammunition, and fully loaded magazines, all of which would be useful for carrying out a shooting.
In a disturbing twist, officials claim that Pardo provided her son with the tools to kill as a form of compensation for watching his younger siblings.
This new charge came to light after investigators found an image among the evidence related to the shooting plot. According to the arrest warrant, the photo had allegedly been sent by Pardo to the father of a baby who is just 11 months old.
In the text that went along with the photo, she reportedly referred to the child as a ‘brat’ and added: “Tell her to keep being bad.”
Following her arrest on Friday, the court ordered that she have no communication with her children. If she is released from jail, she must also wear an ankle monitor at all times.
San Antonio police noted that she didn’t seem to feel any remorse about what she was being accused of. At a May press conference, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said: “She appeared to be dismissive and unconcerned with her son’s behavior.”
“Her behavior is not only dangerous – it’s abhorrent, especially as a parent.”
That comment was apparently in reference to Brenton Tarrant, who carried out the deadly mass shooting at a mosque in New Zealand, claiming 51 lives.
When investigators searched the family’s home, they reportedly found numerous references to white supremacy, including slogans and symbols like ’14 words,’ ‘SS,’ and swastikas. They also discovered an improvised explosive device, handwritten notes listing mass shooters and their victims, and other alarming signs of a fixation on violence.
“There were some very disturbing things found inside that house.” he said. “That kind of was an indication to us that we needed to move very quickly.”
Officials from the San Antonio Independent School District had also found violent sketches in the boy’s possession, including detailed school maps.
Then, on May 12, the teen showed up at school wearing a face mask, tactical-style pants, and a camouflage jacket. This unusual outfit raised enough concern that the school notified the police right away.
Officers later located him off school grounds and arrested him. When they searched his house afterward, they uncovered disturbing evidence, which led to Pardo’s arrest and her being formally charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism.
His next court appearance has been scheduled for August 7.
