Gladis Tordil, a Filipina immigrant born in Cotabato in 1972, sought the American dream and found stability in Prince George County, Maryland. A valedictorian from the Philippines, she became a dedicated chemistry teacher at Parkdale High School.

Her life seemed settled; she married Eulalio “Lalo” Tordil, a former military man and Homeland Security officer, and together they were raising her two daughters, Grace and Nicki, from a previous relationship. Their neighbors described them as a perfect, happy family.

Beneath the facade, however, the marriage was deeply troubled. Lalo’s volatile temper and controlling nature led to years of physical and emotional abuse.

Gladis sought to hold onto the marriage but ultimately feared for her life and the safety of her teenage daughters.

Court records show Gladis sought a restraining order on May 3, 2016, alleging Lalo had physically assaulted her and subjected the children to military-style discipline, including confinement in a dark room.

She testified Lalo had forced unwanted intimacy and that he was armed with numerous firearms due to his job. The judge immediately granted the restraining order, compelling Lalo to vacate the house and surrender his weapons.

The Department of Homeland Security placed Lalo on administrative leave. He complied with the court order, surrendering six firearms, but his rage simmered. Just two days later, Lalo’s fury boiled over.

On May 5, 2016, Lalo drove to High Point High School, violating the court order by approaching Gladis in the parking lot as she waited for her daughters. The two argued intensely while Gladis remained locked inside her vehicle.

As one of her daughters emerged from the school, Gladis reportedly shouted, “Run, Grace!” Lalo then discharged a weapon multiple times at his estranged wife inside her car before fleeing the scene.

A parent waiting nearby, Johnnel, witnessed the confrontation and approached the car in an act of courage. Lalo, seeing the Good Samaritan, turned his weapon on him, striking Johnnel before speeding away.

Lalo’s spree did not end there. While in flight, he attempted to carjack another vehicle at a nearby shopping center. During this attempt, he opened fire, injuring a woman who was observing the scene and a man who tried to intervene.

Tragically, he then struck Malcolm Winfield, a Good Samaritan, who lost his life in the chaotic exchange of projectiles. Police pursued Lalo across jurisdictions, eventually cornering him at a shopping center.

After a tense standoff, Lalo surrendered. He was charged with two counts of first-degree offenses related to the demises of Gladis and Malcolm Winfield, two counts of attempted first-degree offenses, and four counts related to firearm use.

During his eventual confession, Lalo admitted the restraining order was the main reason for his actions. He also claimed Gladis was supposed to pay an $8,000 debt and refused. He insisted his actions were a result of shame and rage over the public humiliation.

In September 2017, Lalo Tordil pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge sentenced him to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, citing the calculated nature of his actions and the danger he posed to the public.

The court ensured that Lalo would spend his remaining years incarcerated. The case remains a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of domestic abuse and the potential for violence when unchecked control meets rejection. Gladis’s body was sent back to Cotabato, while her daughters were placed in foster care in Washington.