Gilroy: Man suspected of killing mother with baseball bat – The Mercury News

GILROY — A 39-year-old Gilroy man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally beating his mother, a beloved former lecturer at San Jose State University, with a baseball bat on Christmas Day, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

Matthew Salewske was arrested Sunday after deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a home on the 2000 block of Roop Road in unincorporated Gilroy.

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The person who called 911 also reported that Salewske attacked his mother with a baseball bat. When deputies arrived, they found 70-year-old Claudia Salewske suffering from significant head injuries. She was rushed to a hospital, where she died a few hours later.

Based on interviews with multiple parties and physical evidence, deputies booked Matthew Salewske into county jail on suspicion of murder.

News of Claudia Salewske’s death came as a shock to former student and colleague Michelle Hager, who described her as “universally beloved.”

“She was a great person. She was very giving. She would do anything to help someone,” said Hager, 35, of Gilroy, through tears. “I just couldn’t believe something like this would happen, especially to someone like her.”

Claudia Salewske was Hager’s freshman English teacher at Gilroy High School and inspired her to pursue a career in writing.

“She made me think about getting my degree in English and reinforced that I could be a really good writer,” Hager said. “I always say she was the first person who taught me how to avoid comma splices.”

Hager and Claudia Salewske crossed paths again at San Jose State University, where the former pursued an undergraduate degree and the latter taught as a lecturer in the English Department from 2000 to 2013. The two women remained life-long friends, with Salewske attending Hager’s college graduation dinner, bridal shower and wedding.

Claudia Salewske had retired by the time Hager joined San Jose State University as a lecturer, but they worked together several times a year when Salewske returned to help grade writing skills tests.

They last spoke a week ago, when Hager was looking for a recommendation for an eye doctor for her mother.

“She did immediate research and got back to me with her favorite eye doctor in the area,” Hager said. “Little things like that, she would just immediately jump on board to help. … she was a fantastic friend.”

In addition to teaching, Claudia Salewske wrote two history books about Gilroy and was a member of the Gilroy Historical Society. She also was a frequent volunteer at the city’s annual Garlic Festival.

Claudia Salewske was a “valued colleague” and “friend to many” at San Jose State University, said Vice President and Provost Andy Feinstein in a statement released late Tuesday.

“On behalf of the San Jose State University community,” he said, “I would like to express our condolences to all who knew and loved Claudia Salewske.”