San Antonio Mom Went From Murder Groupie to Terror Suspect

Content Warning: Self-Harm

A San Antonio woman is accused of helping her teenage son plan a mass shooting at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School by supplying him with ammunition and tactical gear. According to police and court records, Ashley Pardo, 33, was arrested and charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism after investigators uncovered what they say was a carefully forming plot of mass violence.

The investigation began earlier this year when school officials raised alarms over disturbing drawings found in the boy’s possession. These included a map of the school labeled “suicide route,” drawn alongside the school’s name, and an image of a rifle with muzzle flash. The boy reportedly expressed a fascination with past mass shooters and their manifestos. In April, he was caught using a school-issued computer to research the Christchurch mosque shootings that left 51 people dead in New Zealand. That same day, he attempted suicide with a straight razor, requiring over 100 stitches.

After spending time in an alternative school, the boy returned to Rhodes Middle School in May. On the day of his arrest, he arrived at the school wearing a mask, a camouflage jacket, and tactical pants, then left campus shortly after. His whereabouts were unknown for a time. That same day, his grandmother contacted police after finding a loaded rifle, pistol magazines, and an improvised explosive device in her home. The device was made from a mortar-style firework and wrapped in duct tape. Written on it were “For Brenton Tarrant,” “14 words,” and multiple SS symbols. She also found a handwritten note listing mass shooters and their victim counts. At one point, she caught the boy hitting a live bullet with a hammer. When asked where he got the ammunition, he said his mother gave it to him.

Police say the teen admitted his mother had been buying him tactical gear, including a vest capable of concealing ballistic plates, a tactical helmet, and army clothing, in exchange for babysitting his younger siblings. Investigators allege that Pardo had been in regular contact with school officials, police, and child protective services, but dismissed their repeated warnings. Instead, they say she supported her son’s violent drawings and expressed no concern for his behavior.

Pardo was later arrested and charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism. She posted a $75,000 bond and is now under full-time house arrest with GPS monitoring. As part of her bond conditions, she is barred from contacting her son or Rhodes Middle School. She is also prohibited from owning firearms or incendiary devices and is required to submit to weekly drug and alcohol testing.

There is also growing speculation about Pardo’s personal beliefs. Based on what police reportedly found in her home and what she has posted online, she may be a white supremacist. I don’t doubt that possibility, but I’m not one hundred percent sure of it yet. I need to see more direct evidence before making that claim definitively. What is clear, though, is her obsession with Charles Manson. Who, to be fair, wanted to start a race war.

Pardo’s Instagram account features a visible tattoo of Charlie on her forearm, a quote attributed to him, and shirts featuring his image. One post refers to him as her “favorite hater.” She also reposted quotes from Squeaky Fromme, one of Manson’s most devoted followers, and a would-be assassin of President Gerald Ford. Her social media presence places her firmly in the category of what I call a murder groupie, someone who idolizes killers and those connected to notorious crimes. While I initially suspected she might be a columbiner, her devotion to Manson may be even worse.

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, we obviously didn’t have columbiners. However, we did have edgelords and ladies who idolized Manson. It was never Ted Bundy, or John Wayne Gacy, or David Berkowitz. It was always Charles Manson. Maybe it was because of his tentative connection to the rock music scene, or maybe it was because he didn’t kill with his own hands, but because he convinced others to do it for him. That kind of influence seemed to hold a darker appeal, and it still does.

This case was already horrifying on its face. A mother helping her child prepare for a school shooting should be unthinkable, although not unheard of. But as more is revealed about Ashley Pardo, it appears she may not have just supported her son’s descent into violent fantasy. She may have helped guide it.

This just goes to show that while you need a license to own a dog, any broken, hate-soaked wreck can spit out a kid and raise the next monster.

(Sources)

UPDATE 5/22/2025: The 13-year-old suspect was accused in 2023 of allegedly trying to set an apartment complex on fire. You have to wonder if mom encouraged that as well.

He has also been ordered to remain in police custody.