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 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.
James’ father, 48-year-old Mateusz Dzierbun of Fremont, had an undiagnosed mental illness and hid his mental health struggles, 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…