marco flores_ the boy who burned inside - metro - the boston globe

MarcoFloresasachild.Above:TheviewfromMarcoshousetothehomeofhisneighbor,JaimeGaldamez.

The boy whoBY MARIA CRAMER | GLOBE STAFF

TherewasnoonetoprotectMarco

Flores,and,just9whenitstarted,

hecouldntprotecthimself.Butthen

onedayherealizedthatothershe

lovedwereindanger,andthatitwas

uptohimuptohimtoendit.

Thisstoryisbasedonextensivecourtandpolicedocumentation,including

MarcoFloressrecordedconfessiontopoliceandhisvideorecordingofthe

murder,whichwasviewedbytheGlobewithpermissionofthecourt.

Dialogueinquotationmarkswastakenfromrecordedsourcematerial.All

burned inside

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Fotherdialoguewasreconstructedfromtherecollectionsofthespeakerand,

wherepossible,corroboratedbyanotherpersonparticipatinginthe

conversation.Floreswasinterviewedmanytimesinprisonandbyphone.

uryrisinginsidehim,MarcoFloresgatheredwhathewould

need.

Achokechainhedboughtforthepitbullhismothermadehimgive

awayanallinonetoolwithfoldingknifebladesandaFlipvideo

camera,sonomatterwhathappenedtohim,theworldwouldknow.

Hepickedupthecameraandaimeditathimself.

Todayistheday,hesaid.Imoffnow.Imgonnagoforabliss

walk,thenImgonnagoheaddownthere.

Hepaused,hisdeepbrowneyeslookingawayforaninstantthen

back.Enjoyyourday.

Itwasawarmsummerevening,May22,2011.Aweekearlier,

Marco,17,hadwalkedacrossthestreettohisneighborsbasement

apartment.There,hedcaughtaglimpseofsomethingthatunsettled

him.

Whatisthatpicture?Marcoasked.

Nothing,JaimeGaldamezreplied.

Lyingatopastackofphotos,ithadlookedatfirsttoMarcolikean

ordinarysnapshot,onethatmighthavebeentakenatanyofthe

countlessfamilycookoutsorgettogetherswhereJaime,a31year

olddishwasheratadowntownpizzajoint,wasalwaysincluded.He

RAJNEESHHighlight

hadbeen,whenMarcowassmall,hisafterschoolbabysitter,a

friendsoentwinedwiththeFloresfamilythattheyconsideredhim

oneoftheirown.

Marcowalkedbackacrossthestreettotheneat,slatecoloredduplex

inEastBostonwherehisfamilylived.Hedidntsleepthatnight,or

thenext.Hecouldntgetthepictureoutofhismind,ofhis6year

oldnephew,smilingandaffectionate,onJaimeslap.

Marcothoughtheknewwhatthepicturemeant.No,heknewexactly

whatitmeant.

Sittinginhisroom,blastingtheangriestmusichecouldfind,Marco

startedtoplan.HeporedoveracopyofForensicScience:An

IntroductiontoScientificandInvestigativeTechniquesthathehad

foundinhisbiologyclassroom.Withthecamera,herecorded

himselftalkingthroughtheideacomingtogetherinhishead.

Heknewwhathehadtodo.Therewouldbeplentyoftimelater,for

himandforothers,toworryaboutwhetheritwasright.

Todayat6p.m.,Imgoingtobeginmymission,hesaid.Itallends

tonight.

LongbeforethatdaybeforeheevencametoAmericaMarco

TulioFloreshadfelttwiceabandoned.Hisfatherdisappearedwhen

Marcowastooyoungtoremember.Whenhewas3,hismotherleft

thesmallSalvadorancityofMetapan,wheretheylived,forthe

UnitedStates.Shelefthiminhis14yearoldbrotherOscarscare

andpromisedthatonedayshewouldsendforthem.

Marcoat6yearsoldwhenhefirstarrivedinBoston.Hewasfullofenergybutshyandhadfewfriendshisfirstyearsinthenewcity.(Floresfamily)

ShebecameafigmentofMarcosmemory,asweetvoiceonthe

phonefromsomewherefarawayandthenameonpackagesthat

cameinthemail.ARedSoxjersey.Stuffedanimals.Toremind

himselfwhatshelookedlike,hewouldgofindthephotographthey

keptofher,takeitfromitsenvelope,andstareattheimage,avery

tallwomanstandinginadoorway.

OnasunnydaywhenMarcowas6,Oscartookhimfromthe

countrysidewheretheylivedtoasmallplazainthecity.There,a

middleagedwomanandayoungermanwaitedforthemwithacar.

Oscartookhisbrotherbythehandandledhimtothem.

YouregoingtoseeMom,Oscarsaid.Heputtheboyinthecarwith

thestrangers.Marcobawledwithfear.

YoullbeOK,Oscarsaid.

ThestrangersdroveMarcotoavillage,wheretheyputhiminanew

car,withnewcompanions.Itwentonthatway,fromcartocarand

villagetovillage.

SomewhereinMexico,newpeopleputMarcoonaplanewith

anotherboyboundfortheUnitedStates.Whentheplanelandedin

Boston,Marcowalkedoffthejetwayandsaw,beamingathim,a

small,roundwomanwearingasweatshirtwithabigBostonB.He

didnotrecognizeher.Sheswepthiminherarms,laughingand

crying.

Shenoticedhistwofrontteethmissing.

Youlooktallerinyourpicture,hesaid,andshelaughedharder.

Outside,therewassnow.Thesizeofthebuildingsintheskyline

awedhim.

Noneofitheldhisattention.

Imwithmymom,hesaidtohimself,repeatingthewordsasthey

drovetohisnewhomeinEastBoston.IcantbelieveImwithmy

mom.

Marcosmothertriedtomakeupforlosttime,spendingevery

minuteshecouldwiththeboy.ShetookhimrollerbladingatRevere

Beach,ortoplaysoccerinthepark.Whenitsnowed,sheleaptwith

himintobigpilesandmadesnowangels.Marcowasfullofenergy

andcravedherattention.

Vamos,Mama,hewoulddemand.Letsgo!

Butshewasgoneoften.Sheworkedlonghourscleaningofficesin

theBackBay.Therewasrenttopay,andshewastryingtosavefor

thefuture,forsomethingbetterforherchildren.Andshehadtosave

forOscarspassagefromElSalvador.

Ittooktwoyearstodothat.WhenOscararrived,hemovedinwith

hismother,brother,andsister,theeldestofthethreesiblingsand

thefirsttocometoBoston.Butthejoyofthereunionquicklygave

waytoreality.Thereweremorebillstopay,andOscarsoonwentto

Asachild,Marcolovedtorollerbladeandplaysoccer.Oneofhisfavoritecompanionswashismother,whoplayedwithhimwhenevershehadtimeofffromwork.(Floresfamily)

work,too.Hegotacleaningjoblikehismotherandworkedsixdays

aweek.Sheworkedseven.Shewastheretomakebreakfastfor

Marcocafconlecheandtoastandtodrophimoffatschool.

Then,sheandOscarmadethetriptotheglitteringofficebuildings

acrosstheharbor,notreturninguntillongafterdark.

Marcosmotherworriedabouthim.Hewasshyanddidntknow

Englishwell.Hehadfewfriends.Histeacherslikedhissweet,quiet

demeanor,andheexcelledatschoolwhenhetried.Butmoreoften

thannot,hewoulddaydreamandfallbehind.

Marcoisalwaysintheclouds,histhirdgradeteachertoldMarcos

mother.Hesalwayscountingthestars.

Marcoexcelledatschoolwhenhetried,buthewaseasilydistracted.Oneofhisteachersremarkedtohismotherthatheoftendaydreamedinclass.(Floresfamily)

Shehadmanagedtofindpeopletolookafterhimwhileshewasat

workfriendsofthefamily,usually,butitwasaconstantstruggle.

Often,shehadtopay.Once,shecamehometofindthatthewoman

shedhiredhadgottenMarcodrunkonbeer.Shelongedfora

responsiblecompanionforherboy.Someonewhocouldgivehimthe

attentionheneeded.

Itseemedalmostamiracle,then,whenJaimeGaldamezcameinto

theirlives.

Outsidethebasementapartment,whereJaimelivedalone,Marco

heardtheTVblaring.Heopenedthedoorandsteppedintothe

gloomandclutter.

Jaimewasonthecouch,staringglassilyatthenewsonthebigflat

screeninthecorner.

Marcosatdowninachairnearby.Hemovedslowly.Hetookthe

knifeoutofhispocketandplayedwithit.Hewantedtobe

menacing.HepointedtheFlipcameraatJaime.

Whatwouldyousayifthiswasyourlastday?Marcosaid.Poof,

youblewup.Whatwouldyousay?

TheyhadmetJaimeatthehomeofOscarsgirlfriend.Hesaidthey

sharedafamilyname,Flores,andsaidtheyprobablyhadrelativesin

common.

TheysoondiscoveredthatnotonlyhadhecomefromElSalvador,

buthewasalsofromtheirhometown.Marcosmotherdelightedin

theconnection.

Jaimewas21yearsoldthenandliveddownthestreet.Hesuddenly

seemedtocrosstheirpathseveryday.WhenMarcoandhismother

walkedoutthedooroftheirhousemanymornings,heoften

happenedtobepassing,beefyandrosycheeked,quicktosayhello.

JaimeGaldamezwassoentwinedinthelivesofMarcoandhismotherthathewasconsideredapartofthefamily.(SuffolkDistrictAttorneysOffice)

Oh,whatacoincidence,hewouldsay.Howareyoudoing?

Soon,hewasvisitingthehouse.WhenMarcosmothercamefrom

thegrocerystore,hewastheretohelplugthebagsinsideortowatch

Marcoskateinthestreetwhilesherestedinside.Whenshestruggled

inhaltingEnglishtocommunicatewiththecablecompany,hetook

thephone.Shethoughtofhimasanotherson.

ItmadeperfectsensetosayyeswhenJaimeeventuallyofferedto

babysitforfree.BythetimeMarcowas9,theboysmotherwas

callingJaimethreeorfourtimesaweek,askingwhetherhecouldbe

attheirapartmentwhenMarcogothomefromsoccerpractice.

Thetwofellintoaroutineonthosedays:Sweatyandmuddyfrom

thesoccerfield,Marcowouldshower,changeinhisbedroom,then

comeouttowhileawaytheeveningwithJaime,playingvideogames

andeatingthepupusasMarcosmotherhadleftforthem.

Oneafternooninthespring,afterMarcoshoweredandchanged,he

returnedtohisbedroomandfoundJaimeinside.HisbacktoMarco,

Jaimewasreachingforsomethingbehindthedresser.Marco

loweredhisgazetothefloorandsawwhathaddroppedthere.A

videocamera.

Whatareyoudoing?Marcoasked.

Jaimesfaceflushed,andhebegantostammer.Marcowasconfused.

Hestartedtospeak,butJaimetalkedoverhim,raisinghisvoice.

Yourmotherwillbereallyupsetifyoutellher,hesaid.Shewillthink

yourelyingandgetmadatyou.

ThewordsstoppedMarco.Theystayedinhismindthatdayandfora

longtime.Jaimemusthavehiddenthecameraandfilmedhimwhile

hechangedclothes.Thethoughtfilledthefourthgraderwith

revulsion.ButwhatifJaimewasright?Whatifhismotherblamed

Marco?Whatifshedidntlikehimanymore?Whatifshewentaway?

Asthedayswentby,Marcofeltsickenedandafraid.Buthesaid

nothing,andsoeachnewdaywhenMarcoreturnedfrompractice,

Jaimewastheretogreethim.

Inthedarkofthebasementapartment,Jaimesblankfacewaslit

bytheglowoftheTVscreenashelayonthecouch.Lookingathim,

Marcosragemounted.

Afterafewminutes,hegotupandslippedthedogchainaround

Jaimesneck.Yournewchain,hesaid.

Jaimedidntreact.

AreyouOK,Jaime?Marcosaid,hisvoicethickandmocking.

Imfine,Jaimesaid,pointedlystaringattheTV.You?

AreyouOK?Marcosaidagain.

Yo,si.

No,yourenot,Marcosaid.Youresickinthehead.

Gradually,evenafterhewascaughtwiththecamera,Jaimeregained

Marcostrust.WhateverhehadbeendoingthatdayinMarcos

bedroomdidnthappenagain,andbythetimeMarcoturned10that

fall,Jaimewasbabysittingeveryday.Heboughticecreamand

cheaptoys.SometimesMarcowouldstayatJaimesapartmentuntil

hismotherorbrothercamehomefromwork.

Ononeofthosecoldafternoons,aftertheyhadwatchedTVinsilence

forawhile,JaimeledMarcointohisbedroom.Duskwasgathering

outsidethewindow,andinthemurkydarkness,Jaimeguidedhimto

thebedandtoldhimtoliedown.MarcosheartpoundedasJaime

kneltbeforehim.Hefeltlikeacarwasabouttohithim.

Dontworry,Jaimewhispered.Imnotgoingtohurtyou.Youre

goingtolikethis.

Whenitwasover,Marcojumpedoffthebedandrantothedoor,

fumblinginthedarkforthehandle.Whenhishandfinallyfoundit,

heflungthedooropenandran,sobbing,towardhome.Hismother.

Hewantedhismother.

Butshewasnthome.Noonewas.WhenMarcoreachedthefront

steps,Jaimecaughtupwithhimandgrabbedhimbytheshoulders.

Dontworry,hesaid.Everythingisgoingtobefine.Justdonttell

yourmother.

Marcoathis11thbirthdayparty.Ashegrewolderandtheabusecontinued,Marcobecamequieter,moredespondent.(Floresfamily)

Hedidnt.Andnow,whenMarcogothomefromschoolinthe

afternoon,Jaimedrewhimintoabedroomandcooedthattheoral

sexheperformedonMarcowasnormal.Itwaslove.

Thisiswhatfriendsdo,Jaimesaid.

Marcoshuthiseyesandsilentlyprayed:Iwishhewouldgoaway.I

wishhewoulddisappear.

Theyearspassed.Heturned11,then12.Onhisbirthdays,Jaimewas

theretohelpcelebrate.Heboughtexpensivegifts.Marcocamehome

onedaytofindabrandneworangeandblackbicycleontheporch.

Therewasacardonit:ForMarco.

Marco,about11yearsold,poseswithabrandnewbicycleJaimeboughtforhim.JaimerepeatedlygaveMarcogifts,oftenexpensiveitemslikevideogamesandacellphone.(Floresfamily)

Later,therewasaDVDplayer,anApplecomputer,acellphone,a

newbiketoreplacetheoldone.

Yourespoilinghim,Marcosmotherobjected.Butthegiftskept

coming.

Marcocouldmakenosenseofanyofit.Hefeltsickenedbyshame

andhelplessnessbutalsowonderedwhetheritwastruewhatJaime

said,thatthiswaswhatlovewaslike.

Hegrewsullenandremovedandperformedbadlyatschool.

Manyafternoons,hewenttothelivingroomandturnedtheTVto

AnimalPlanetforhisfavoriteshow.Hewatchedtransfixedasthe

maninsafarikhakisboundeduptreesorplungedintooceansor

riversofmudinpursuitofdeadlyanimalsthatsnappedandwrithed

inhisgrip.Crikey!themanwouldexclaimmerrilyafteraclosecall.

MarcowantedtocrawlintotheTVscenesohecouldbethere,too,so

thoseanimalscouldattackhim,andhecouldfightback.

Jaimewassittinguponachairnow,Marcoinfrontofhimwiththe

camerainchesfromJaimesface.

So,whatdidyoudo?YoudidnttrytokissmewhenIwasalittle

boy?Didyounotsucceedwiththat?Answerthequestion.Whatdid

youdo?

JaimewatchedMarcocarefully.Atlast,hesaidinaquietvoice,I

lovedyou.

Thegirlwiththeponytailwasgregariousandpretty.Shelaughedat

everything,talkedtoeveryone.Marcowatchedherintheafter

schoolprogramhedsignedupfor,whereinstructorstaughtstudy

skillsandhowtoplaytennis.Hesawinherconfidenceandpoise,

everythinghewanted.

Hewas13now.Jaimedidntcomeafterhimasoftenbutwasstilla

regularpresenceatthehouse,doingMarcoslaundry,cleaninghis

room,cookingforhim.

Marcofeltliberatedbyhisfeelingsforthisnewgirl.Thosefeelings

werealsoarevelation.Foryears,JaimehadacidlywarnedMarcoto

avoidgirls,tellinghimtheywerenogood.Once,heyankedMarco

Whenhewasabout14,MarcoflewtoIndianapolistovisithisoldersister.HewasthrilledtogetoutofBostonandsoexcitedtoflyalone,hedressedupinashirtandtie.(Floresfamily)

fromafriends13thbirthdaypartybecausegirlswerethere.He

regularlycallednumberslistedonthefamilysphonebillstosee

whetheranygirlsanswered.

Butthegirlwiththeponytaildidnotseematalllikethehorrible

creaturesJaimedescribed.SheandMarcotalkedandgrewclose.

Oneday,hetookherhandandtoldherhelovedher.

Soon,shewasspendingtimeatMarcoshouseandcomingtofamily

cookouts.Jaimeignoredher.Butoneafternoon,whensheand

Marcowereinhisroom,thinkingtheywerealoneinthequiethouse,

therewasasuddenthunderofpoundingonthedoorandashriekof

rage.JaimeburstintotheroomandgrabbedMarcobyhisshirtand

shookhimviolently,shoutinginSpanish.

Puta!hebellowedather.Whore!

Marcopleadedwithhim:Calmdown.ItsOK.

Marcotookthegirlsarmandrushedoutside.Frightened,sheasked

himwhattheoutburstwasabout.

Marcolied:Hewasjustmadatmefortakingsomemoneyhedleft

onthecounter.

Thegirldidntbelievehim,butMarcoofferednothingmore.

Marcohatedthelie,hatedallthelieshehadtotelltoprotecthis

secret.Hewishedhecouldblurtouteverything.Buthejustcouldnt.

Youhavepicturesof[him],Marcosaid,referringtohisnephew.

Hismockingtonewasgone.Hewasseriousnow.Hefeltdeadly.

MarcotoldJaimetogetthepictures,andthemangotup,retrieved

astackofphotosandhandeditover.Marcoflippedthrough.There

werepicturesofotherboysbutnothisnephew.

Isawthephotos...inhere,Marcodemanded.Wherearethey?

Idonthavephotosofhim,Jaimesaid,lookingaway,asMarco

replied:

Youwouldtakethattothegravewithyou?Youwoulddieforthat

answer?

ThepanicattacksbeganwhenMarcowasintheninthgrade.One

day,leavingschoolafterclass,hisbookbagonhisback,hisheart

startedtorace,thumpinghard.Sweatsoakedhisshirt.Hismind

becameawhirlajumbleofmentalpicturesandfeelingsofterror

andrage.Heglimpsedhisreflectioninacarwindowanddidnt

recognizehimself.

Hebegantorun,acrossthestreetandintoaparkwheretherewasa

baseballdiamond.Hesprintedfuriouslyaroundit,pumpinghis

arms,thebookbagjostlingonhisback.Hecounted17lapsbefore

Marcoat15,volunteeringforTheGreaterBostonFoodBank.Hewassufferingfrompanicattacksatthispoint,butsaidnothingabouthisproblemstohisfriendsorfamily.(Handout)

losingtrack.Hekeptrunninguntilhisbodycouldntdoitanymore.

Afterward,heresolvedtogetstronger.HejoinedaPlanetFitness

downthestreetandfuriouslyliftedweights.Hesignedupfor

preenlistmenttrainingforhighschoolstudentsthattheMarines

organizedonBostonCommon.

Twiceaweek,hemetthegroupataMcDonaldsonTremontStreet

andthenenduredthegruelingdrillspushups,situps,longruns

alongtheCharlesRiver,windsprints.Sometimesafterhewasdone,

whenhegotbacktoEastBoston,hewenttothegymandworkedout

more.

Hestartedsmokingalotofmarijuana,too.Inthehigh,hefound

relief.Hismothersmelleditwaftingfromhisroomandconfronted

him.Marcolashedback,screamingsofiercelyatherthatOscar

wouldintervene.

ThenMarcowouldgoquietandstareatthefloor,tearsrollingdown

hisface.

Whatiswrong?Oscarasked.

Jaimelookedafraidnow.

Marco,hebeseeched.

Pervert,Marcospatandthentookabreath.SowhenIwas

younger,whatthefdidyoudo,huh?Whatdidyoudotome?

Iamapersonwholovedyou,thatsall,Jaimesaidsoftly.

Oh,itsjustme?Marcoshuffledthroughthestackofpictures.

Howmanyboysarethere?Howmanylittlekidsareyoufing

messingwith?

No,Jaimesaid.Iswear.Ineverhurtyou.Inevermistreated

you.

Thatwhatyoujustsaid?Marcoshotback.Isthatwhatyoujust

said?

Jaimelookeddown.Afteralongwhile,hisvoicebarelyabovea

whisper,hesaid:Ihadsexwithyou.

Marcochokedupandstartedtosob.

Areyouhappytoseemelikethis?Marcosaid.Youlikeseeingme

cry?Cry,Jaime.Cry,crywithme.

Jaimeswordsweremuffled.Inside,hesaid.

Oh,yourecryingontheinside,Marcoreplied.Iwanttoseeiton

theoutside.

Fortwoyears,Marcohadmanaged,forthemostpart,tokeephis

distancefromJaime.

ButthenoneeveninginearlyMay2011,hewalkedovertoJaimes

apartment.Hehadnoreasonforgoing,nothinghecouldname

onlythatanotherfloodofpanicandfurywaswashingoverhim.He

knockedonthedoor.Jaimewasalone.

Whydidyoudothistome?Marcodemanded.Jaimestaredblankly

back.

Dontyouknowwhatyoudidtome?Marcosaid.Dontyouknow

howyoumessedwithmyhead?

Jaimestillonlystared.

Marcosluggedhim,hard,andthebigmanfell.Marcojumpedon

himandpunchedagainandagainasJaimewrithedunderhimand

buriedhisfaceinhisupraisedarms.Marcoreachedintohispocket

andbroughtoutaknife.Heflickedopentheblade,heldthehandle

inhisfist,andraisedittoplunge.

Jaimesterrifiedeyesstaredupathim.Marcocursedandjammed

theknifeintoacheapplasticdrawercasenexttohim.Hegottohis

feet,pulledouttheknife,andleft.

MarcoandJaimecrossedpathsfromtimetotimeinthedaysafter

thatandgreetedoneanothercoolly.Neithersaidanythingabout

whathadhappened,andMarcofocusedhisattentiononschool.

Hehadproposedaproject,avideomontageofstudent

accomplishments.Itwasagreatidea,histeacherssaid.Buthe

neededadigitalcamera.Theonlypersonhecouldthinkofwhohad

onewasJaime.

WhenMarcoknockedonthedoor,Jaimelethimin.HetoldMarco

hecouldhavethecameraandwenttotheTVconsoletoopenthe

littlesafehekeptthere.ItwasthenthatMarcosawthepictureofhis

nephew,Oscarsson,onJaimeslap,andthestackofother

photographsunderneathit.Itwasthenthathismindbegantostir,

leadinghim,inthesleeplessnightsthatfollowed,tothis:Hewasnt

theonlyone.Hehadtoprotecthisnephew.Andheneeded

somethingelse.

Jaimehadtotelltheworldwhathehaddone,andtosayoutloud

thatitwasnotMarcosfault.

Afewdayslater,Marcowasreadyonceagaintowalkacrossthe

street.

CrimescenephotostakenbyBostonpoliceshowtheitemsMarcousedthenightofhisfinalconfrontationwithJaime.(SuffolkDistrictAttorney'sOffice)

Atlast,itwastime.

MarcomovedclosertoJaime.Hetookholdofoneendofthechoke

chainaroundJaimesneckandtuggedonit,drawingittight.

Youready?

Jaimeseemedresigned.HeaskedMarconottostabhim,thatthe

painwouldbetoomuch.Marcoledhimtoachairinfrontofa

mirrorandtoldhimtositfacingit.

Lookatyourself,Marcosaid.Youdontlikewhatyousee?

Jaimenodded.

Good.IdontlikewhatIsee,either...Iseesomebodywhosa

threattomyfamily.

HeboundJaimeswristswithducttapeandputastripoverhis

mouth,thenjerkedhardonthechainuntilJaimewentslack.

Hedraggedthebodyontoabed,douseditwithcharcoallighter

fluid,thenwenthometowait.Whenitwaslightandhebelieved

Jaimesneighborswouldbeawakeandabletoescape,hecrept

backanddroppedalightedmatchthroughthewindow.Hewanted

nothingtoremainofhistormentorbutash.

Someonecalled911inapanic.Therewereflamescomingfromthe

basementapartment.

Firefighterswerethereinminutes,rushingthroughthealley,

breakingdownthebackdoor.Throughtheflameandthickblack

smoke,oneofthefiremenmadeoutafigureontheburning

mattress.

Cap,hecalledout.Wegotabody.

Policewouldworkalldayandintothenightpickingthroughthe

ashesandphotographingbitsofpossibleevidence:acharredbottle

ofKingsfordlighterfluid,arollofducttape,similartothetapethat

boundthewristsandcoveredthemouthofthevictim.Itwasplainly

ahomicide,buttherewerefewmeaningfulcluesaboutwhodiditor

why.

PolicephotographedthecharredremainsofJaimesbed,wherehisbodywasfoundbyBostonfirefightersonMay23,2011.(SuffolkDistrictAttorney'sOffice)

Intime,investigatorswouldhaveplentyofevidence:Marcosvideo,

whichcapturedalmosteverything,hundredsofphotographsand

transcriptstakenfromtheharddriveofacomputerthatJaimeused.

Butby2a.m.,thedetectivesworkingthecasewerefarfromdone

andexhaustedafterhoursatthecrimescene.

Theleaddetectivewasjustfallingintobedwhenhisphonerang.It

wasthesupervisorattheEastBostonstationtellinghimthataquiet

17yearoldboywantedtospeakwithhim.Whenthedetectiveand

hispartnerarrived,Marcowassittingatatableinthestationsroll

callroom.Hesaidhewouldtellthemeverything.

MarcoinhisownwordsFromhisconfessiontopolice:Itwasmewhodidit

MarcohadalreadyconfessedtoOscarandtohismother,who

screamedandwept.Oscarsaidheshouldgotothepolice.Marco

agreed.Therewasnoreasontostaysilentanymore.

Theconfessioncheckedoutineverydetail.Astheinvestigation

unfolded,itbecamecleartoauthoritiesthatJaimehaddonewhat

Marcosaidhehad,andmore.Federalinvestigators,itturnedout,

hadbeentrackingchildpornographybeingsentfromandreceived

onJaimescomputer.Theyhadbeenclosetofilingasearchwarrant

forhisSaratogaStreetbasementapartment.

WhenforensicspecialistsexaminedJaimescomputersharddrive,

theyfoundhundredsofimagesandvideosof10to13yearoldboys

andsome50,000linesofencryptedchatthatincludedhistacticsfor

manipulatingyoungboysandwarmingthemupalittletoplantthe

seedofsexualdesire.Tenyearoldsareespeciallysusceptible,he

wrote.Theywillaskforit.

Hedescribedindetailhismethodsforsucceedingwithyoungboys,

especiallyMarco.NotlongbeforeJaimedied,hepostedapictureof

Marcoasachild.Hewassobeautifulthen,hewrote.Healsowrote

thatamongthemanychildrenheknew,Therearesomegoodones

comingup,includingMarcosnephew.

Thecasetooktwoyearstocometocourt.Prosecutorsinitially

chargedMarcowithfirstdegreemurder,whichcarriesalife

sentence.AtahearinginMay2013,AssistantDistrictAttorneyIan

PolumbaumtoldthejudgethattheyhadreachedadealwithMarcos

courtappointedlawyer,JamesBudreau,toreducethechargeto

manslaughter.Budreauhadfiledmotionsdetailinghowheplanned

todefendtheteenagerajurywouldhearofthetraumaMarco

suffered,thestoryofabrokenboydriventokill.

TheyallagreedthatMarcobelievedhehadactedtosafeguardhis

nephewintheonlywayhecould.

KillingMr.Galdamez,inhisownmind,wastheonlywaytoprotect

thechild,Polumbaumtoldthejudge.

Still,Marcohadkilledaman.Andthoughhehadwaiteduntil

daylighttolightthefire,hestillendangeredtwofamilieslivingon

theupperfloorsofthebuilding,Polumbaumsaid.Therehadtobe

consequences.

Marcowassentencedto15years.

MarcoentersacourtroomonMay16,2013,topleadguiltytokillingJaime.(BarryChin/GlobeStaff)

Now,attheSouzaBaranowskimaximumsecurityprisoninShirley,

Marcoplayschess,watchesPBS,andreadsvoraciously.Theinmates

whoknowhisstorytreathimkindly.Sodothecorrectionalofficers.

Hismothercomesregularlytoseehim.Hisoldgirlfriendwiththe

ponytailcomes,too,onoccasion.

Marcodoesntliketotalkaboutthemurder,butwhenasked,hedoes

soinameasured,uninflectedtone.Andhewillreflect,uptoapoint,

onthefactthathetookahumanlife.

Killingsomeoneisneverworthit,hesays.ButIdontfeelbadfor

him.Ifeelhewasaverybadperson.Itsnotlikehetriedtoseek

help.Hechosetodoit.ImnotsayingIdonthaveremorse.ButI

InsidethevisitingroomattheSouzaBaranowskiCorrectionalCenter.Marcowas17whenhekilledthemanwhohadmolestedhimwhenhewasalittleboy.(SuzanneKreiter/Globestaff)

dontfeelsadforhimpassingaway.

Whenhesscheduledtobereleasedin11years,Marcowillbe32.

Becauseheisnotacitizenandpleadedguiltytoafelony,hewill

probablybedeportedtoElSalvador.

Hetriestousehistimeinprisonwell.Hetalkstoatherapistwhen

sheisavailable,aboutonceamonth,workingtounwindthedamage

ofthoseyears.Still,sometimestherageboilsupagain,sofiercely

hellfalltothegroundanddopushupsuntilhisarmscollapse.He

knowshehaslostsomethingofhimself,nevertoberecovered.

Andsometimestheoldwishcomesback,ofonedaygoingoutintoa

jungle,aherotakingonadangerousbeast.Inhisimagination,he

alwayswins.

MariaCramercanbereachedatmaria.cramer@globe.com.Followheron

Twitter@GlobeMCramer.