Texas slaying suspect had been violent with mom in California, deputies say

A week before Ronald Lee Haskell Jr. was arrested on suspicion of killing six people in Texas, he had a violent confrontation with his mother in San Marcos, Calif., that led her to get a restraining order against him, officials said.

Haskell, 33, had an argument with his mother on July 2 and physically restrained her from fleeing, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. By the time deputies were called, Haskell was gone.

Deputies searched for Haskell over the course of several days but were unable to find him. His mother, Karla Haskell, 61, obtained a restraining order to keep her son away.

The argument allegedly was sparked by Ronald Haskell’s anger over his mother being in contact with his ex-wife. In court papers, his mother alleged that he tied her to a chair and choked her.

On Wednesday, Ronald Haskell was arrested on suspicion of killing two adults and four children in a home in suburban Houston.

Ronald Haskell reportedly grew up in Escondido and later lived in San Diego. The two adults who were killed attended high school in San Marcos. Katie Stay, killed along with her husband and the four children, was the sister of Ronald Haskell’s ex-wife.