I read two interesting articles in the newspaper this morning. The first was about the original mass murderer, Howard Unruh, who in 1949 walked down a street in Camden, New Jersey, and killed 13 people in 20 minutes. Psychiatrists at the time tried to find out why he did it by giving him “truth serum.”
On Oct. 20, 1949, Camden County Court Judge Bartholomew A. Sheehan signed the final order of commitment for Unruh after a team of four psychiatrists classified him as a case of “dementia praecox, mixed type, with pronounced catatonic and paranoid coloring.”
In modern parlance, he was a paranoid schizophrenic, a classification that would appear again and again in Unruh’s records.
Read Inside the mind of a killer, on Philly.com.
The other article discusses an unintended consequence of many criminals receiving life sentences—a growing population of prisoners with dementia. The California Men’s Colony is teaching some inmates to care for the elderly prisoners—and they are succeeding.
Heriberto G. Sanchez, chief psychologist of the California Men’s Colony, said prisoners “were appreciative that someone from the outside world thought they could do this.” One wrote in an evaluation, “Thank you for allowing me to feel human.”
Read Life, with dementia, on NYTimes.com.
coping
Milo,
I am so sorry to hear about this. This type of shit brings tears to my eyes. I just can’t understand it. I talent watch the news except CNN and didn’t hear of it. It breaks my heart. It seems as though there is always some sick sad stuff going on. Missing and abused children, penn state, school shootings. It so sad and breaks my heart and scares the he’ll out of me at the same time.
I’m sorry about grand. That little one has been through allot. Your doing a good job. He is very lucky to have you. I can’t imagine for one minute it’s easy. Give him a a hug.. I wish I could! Bullies are horrible and adults can be worse!!!
I’ll say a prayer..
Take care.
MiLo
Grand is home and talking about the lock down. Even though the shooting was not his school, but the next district over, all surrounding schools went into lockdown because they did not know if there were more than one shooter that may have boarded a bus for another district.
He said sheet metal was placed over their windows. They were not allowed out of their classrooms, even for bathroom breaks. They walk to the school next door for lunch – they were escorted by armed guards for this. No school official told the kids why they were in lockdown. Some kids had cell phones and found out and rumors started.
How scary
The shooter lived with his grandparents…
coping
Milo,
How scary!! Really scary. I think it’s good grand is talking about it. He must feel safe with family and that’s a good thing.
What a horrible tragedy. For all the victims, family and the community. How does this happen? How does a child do these things?
I feel for the victims, and the family as well a the shooter.. How does this happen???
Please don’t put much stock into the fact he was raised by his grandparents. Grand will be ok!!
God bless.. No bs.
skylar
Milo,
at least he’s talking to you about it. That’s a positive thing.
Please don’t think about the comparisons. You are making the difference in his life.
MiLo
Thanks Coping & Sky ~ It’s hard not to think of comparisons. I know Grand is a sweet loving kid NOW…
All the kids that were shot were waiting for a bus to take them to a county vocational school. The shooter was waiting to be taken to a school for behavioral problems.
Ox Drover
MiLo,
Well it was obvious the kid had behavioral problems, and the most likely event about him being raised by his grandparents is that he had no nurturing parents, and who knows if the grandparents are like you and Hubby or if they are problematic themselves. You just can’t tell by the few details that are coming out now, but I am sure that they will very soon have the color of the kid’s last bowel movement on the nightly news!
MiLo
They did show the grandparent’s home – a beautiful home on 40 acres.
Father had been charged with attempted murder and was convicted of felony assault, so that tells alot.
There is one local news channel that I could not believe, they were so responsible and caring, refusing to report anything that was not confirmed. The reporter is a National Guard officer and has spent several tours in combat situations, he stopped an interview and told the Dad to take the kid in for counseling, he was in shock.
skylar
OK this is weird but there are conflicting reports as to where the student who was killed was. First they said that the shooter entered the cafeteria and targeted 5 students at a table. The one who died was seen trying to duck under the table. Then there is another report saying that the dead student was waiting for a bus outside to take him to the auburn vocational school.
so… which is it?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57386080/suspect-in-deadly-high-school-shooting-identified/?tag=cbsContent;cbsCarousel
MiLo
From what I understand, 3 or 4 students were shot in the cafeteria and at least one more in another classroom. They were waiting for the bus to take them to auburn vocational school. The football coach chased the shooter out the front door while the kid was shooting at him.
I have not heard there was any shooting outside the building.
callmeathena
It’s so sad.
Milo, I understand how close to home this can be.
My son could have gone either direction. He brought weapons to school once — stuff from MY KITCHEN — and was discovered, and had to go to an alternative school (with counseling) for a couple of years.
He turned out great, but who knows what could have pushed him in another direction.
Hugs.