Jan 25 2009
Broken Boy
Recently a young man who I once taught in middle school was arrested for murder. He was indicted on eight counts of aggravated murder, four counts of kidnapping, two counts each of aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, and single counts of gross sexual imposition of a child under 13, receiving stolen property, grand theft of a motor vehicle and being a felon in possession of a weapon. The prosecutor is seeking the death penalty.
Even though I only had the young man in my class for a short time, hearing of his crimes has weighed on me. I don’t recall feeling frightened of him; in fact, when I picture him in my mind, I see him with a sweet but goofy grin on his face. One of my teacher friends referred to him as “charming,” and I’d have to agree that he could be. He was mischievous, but that grin of his could make you forget midsentence what misdeed you were correcting him for.
At the time he was in my class, he was transitioning from a mental health facility into our school. I’ve since forgotten what little I knew of his background, other than that he was in foster care and had serious academic delays. Later, when he was in high school, I witnessed the severity of his rage as he had to be restrained by our crisis team for an outburst of temper. Still, I had no idea how damaged this young man was.
Various newspaper articles have filled in some blanks for me: his mother died of a drug-related heart attack when he was a toddler; in all likelihood, she had used drugs while pregnant with her son. He lived with his abusive father in homeless shelters until going into foster care. He was diagnosed with a hearing loss as well as ADHD at age 6 or 7. Also at age 7, he began smoking marijuana; a year later, he began drinking alcohol. By the time he was 10, he had been identified as mildy mentally retarded. At age 11 he first attempted suicide. As a juvenile, he had various run-ins with the law. He stole–property, cars. After he stole a pizza-delivery driver’s car, his last foster family kicked him out at age 16. He set fire to a neighbor’s house after burglarizing it. He was in and out of youth correction facilities throughout his teenage years and into his early twenties. It appears that none of the interventions tried with him worked. He was a broken boy.
Still, I was shocked to see him arrested for the murder of a young mother and the kidnapping of her 4-year-old son. Shocked…but not altogether surprised. It’s hard to believe that the young man on the news for such heinous crimes is one I once taught in my classroom.
My head buzzes with unanswerable questions. Was there something more I could have done when he was in my class? Should I have made more of an effort to reach out to him? As a school did we do all we could for him? While no one can say for certain, I feel that there was probably no more I could have done. I’m also fairly confident that our school did its best for this troubled young man. But there are tougher questions: What happened? What was he thinking? I wonder if there might have been anything done to prevent this incident. Earlier intervention? Perhaps he has been misdiagnosed or has a condition as yet undiagnosed.
“What ifs” aside, this horrendous situation has driven home one point in particular for me: criminals are human. What this young man–and many others like him–did is monstrous, but he himself is not a monster. His disturbing past left its mark, unfortunately not only on him but also on his victims. By no means do I feel that his disabilities or personal problems should excuse him from consequences for his actions; I absolutely believe that the family he victimized deserves justice. But justice is not vengeance. In this case, appropriate consequences may include mental health treatment in addition to incarceration. I do not envy the jurors who will have to hear this case and render a verdict. Sadly, I wonder if this young man, being hot-tempered and having been accused of child molestation, will even survive to trial. All I can offer are my prayers: that this young man will understand what he’s done and truly repent, that the family of his victims will find healing and peace, and that somehow we will find ways to break the cycle of abused and broken children growing into abusive and destructive adults.
Nancy-
This story really breaks my heart. But, you are so right, criminals are human and we as educators will meet them as youngsters, most likely troubled youngsters and wonder the same things that you are wondering now. Unfortunately all of the interventions that the system puts into place, most likely will not work unless they allow themselves to open up and receive the love and guidance that is surrounding them.
Really thoughtful entry. Thanks for sharing.
Wow such a sad story. For all you know you COULD have left a mark on him; he could have happy thoughts of your class. You sound like such a great teacher, because even after this kid has long left your classroom not only do you remember him but you still care.