Pantaleon faces charges in court
Murder suspect's family visits SR home where woman slain, say man 'wasn't right in the head'

By Martin Espinoza and Laura Norton
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
May 15, 2008



Minutes before Honorio Pantaleon appeared in court Wednesday morning to face murder charges, his family visited the Santa Rosa apartment he shared with Patricia Barrales and their two young children.

Pantaleon's father, mother, a brother and a sister solemnly rummaged around the two-bedroom unit on Montecito Boulevard, trying to make sense of the brutal weekend attack in which police say Pantaleon stabbed Barrales while their boys were in the apartment. Police said Pantaleon then stuffed Barrales' body in a plastic toy box in a closet.

"We're very sad. There are no words," said Pantaleon's sister, Angelica Pantaleon, speaking in Spanish, adding later that her brother "wasn't right in the head."

She said Honorio Pantaleon never got along with Barrales' family, especially her mother, and there were long-standing ill feelings. Pantaleon, she said, was tormented by ongoing conflicts with Barrales' family.

"He would always say that he saw her mother in Patty's face when he talked to her," said Angelica Pantaleon. "He would come and tell you the spirit of the mother would go into Patty's body . . . the only thing we know is that he was crazy."

Barrales' family declined a request for an interview Wednesday.

At the Rincon Valley apartment, toys were scattered about in nearly every room. With the exception of a bare mattress, there was almost no furniture in the apartment.

In a green bin in the corner of the living room, a stuffed yellow fish and green rubber frog hinted at family times now gone forever. What appeared to be blood stains could be seen on the carpet in one of the bedrooms, between the doorway and a closet.

Police said Wednesday they could not comment on the carpet stains or whether the stains had been there when police first searched the apartment just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

"We're not able to release any more information about the crime scene at this time," said Sgt. Lisa Banayat. "Any obvious signs of a crime were not seen when officers visited the apartment."

After spending time in the apartment Wednesday morning, Pantaleon's family rushed to the Sonoma County Superior Court chamber where he was scheduled to appear.

Shackled and guarded by half a dozen bailiffs, Pantaleon was brought into the courtroom shortly after 11 a.m., making eye contact with his father and mother.

Pantaleon is charged with murder, aggravated mayhem, domestic violence, child endangerment and mayhem, the use of a knife, the infliction of great bodily injury and two unnamed special circumstances.

Pantaleon, 30, faces a life sentence if convicted of murdering Barrales, 25, his public defender Jeff Mitchell said.

Pantaleon did not enter a plea and was denied bail.

Pantaleon's arraignment took place before Judge Elliot Daum and lasted no more than 10 minutes. The defendant answered court questions through the aid of a translator.

Barrales' family did not attend.

Outside the courtroom, Pantaleon's family declined to comment on his appearance.

Earlier in the day, they described him as a man with a troubled past who was trying to get his life in order. They said Pantaleon, born in Mexico, immigrated legally to the United States many years ago but lost his legal status as young teen when he ran afoul of the law.

Angelica Pantaleon said her brother crossed the border "without papers" three times, and Barrales helped him cross the last two times. The family, from Kelseyville, offered few details about the specific crime or crimes that led to his immigration status being revoked when he was a juvenile.
Pantaleon's status as an illegal immigrant made his life difficult, they said.

When asked if they ever sought psychiatric help for him, Angelica Pantaleon said, "We couldn't help him for the same reason that he didn't have any papers."

According to Bobby Hopper, onsite manager of the apartment complex where Barrales and Pantaleon lived, the couple moved in about two months ago. Now, Hopper realizes their rental application was filled with false information.

"She was a very nice lady with really nice kids," said Alan Caulfield, a private contractor who lives down the street and is remodeling several apartments in the complex.

"Those kids will never forget that," he said. "To be buried in a toy box in a closet with all their toys on top . . . that's wrong, wrong, wrong."

Caulfield said he and the owner of Fiorinos Lounge at Montecito Center are organizing a benefit for Barrales' children, ages 2 and 4, who are now living with their maternal grandmother in Ukiah.

Joey Avalos, who co-owns Fiorinos Lounge with his parents, said the May 24 benefit likely could raise several hundred dollars for the children.

"They were right across the street," said Avalos. "They were our neighbors."

Pantaleon was arrested late Monday by Ukiah police after a 911 call revealed he was staying at a relative's home there.

He allegedly attempted to shoot Barrales' mother, Isabel Barrales, 45, at her home earlier that day. When the rifle didn't fire, she reportedly grabbed for it, and he hit her in the head and left, police said.

Pantaleon eventually will face attempted murder and assault charges in Mendocino County, officials said.

Mitchell, Pantaleon's public defender, said his client likely will plead not guilty Friday when he next appears in court in Santa Rosa.

You can reach Staff Writer Laura Norton at 521-5220 or laura.norton@pressdemocrat

.com. You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.
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