Geneticist Asked To Join Search For Clues In Newtown Massacre

[Little Star]

State Police Say Investigation Will Take Months

Hartford Courant
By David Owens
December 18, 2012
10:34 p.m. EST

Dr. H. Wayne Carver has asked a geneticist at the University of Connecticut to join in his investigation of the killings. Carver is awaiting toxicology testing results for gunman Adam Lanza, 20, and information that may help answer the question of why Lanza gunned down 20 first-graders and six women at Sandy Hook.

"I'm exploring with the department of genetics what might be possible, if anything is possible," Carver said Tuesday. "Is there any identifiable disease associated with this behavior?"

Mary Ellen O'Toole, a retired FBI profiler and behavioral scientist, said seeking an answer in Adam Lanza's biology is worthwhile.

"I think it's great to consider if there's something here that would help people understand this behavior," O'Toole said.

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting/hc-newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting-20121214,0,6861962.story


Good. We need to understand what the underlying issues are.

[HooptieWagon]

1. It could take a few years,

but is certainly worthwhile.

A team of experts spent a few years studying the Columbine killers. They reached the conclusion that one of them suffered from clinical depression (Klebold?), and probably could have gotten better (or at least managed it) through treatment and/or medication. The other (Harris?), they determined was an incurable psychopath who was a ticking bomb.

[Little Star]

2. I was just reading about the Columbine killers....

These type studies really interest me.

The gun is what kills people, sure, no doubt. But there are underlying reasons that cause a person to pick up the gun to commit mass murder and that part of the equation needs to be examined as well, imho. I'm glad the investigation in Newtown is looking at all aspects of this horrific mass murder.

[HooptieWagon]

3. I wouldn't say I'm interested, much less obsessed.

But when some event happens, I do a little cursory research on past events so that when discussing it I'm not just spouting ill-informed bullshit.
So I hadn't read any further developments on Columbine until just a couple days ago.

Another interesting aspect of Columbine was that the killers left rather detailed journals, which investigators were able to study. The main part of the attack was intended to be the bombs the kids planted in the cafeteria. They planned for the bombs to kill 600, although that is probably wildly optimistic. Still, had the bombs worked they probably could have killed 100 or more, which would have dwarfed the gun killings.

Also in my cursory research I found a Q&A on reddit with a survivor, who was an on and off again friend of the killers. He said his parents filed dozens of complaints about the boys to police and school, outlining their bomb-making, threats, and other red-flag raising behavior. Neither police or school took any action. Further, following the tragedy his parents spoke to the media about the lack of action, and the police responded by targeting and harrassing their son as an alleged suspect, and destroyed the reports the parents had filed and denied their existence. Several years later, investigators discovered copies of the complaints on the PD computer hard drives, but no originals could be found. This witness stated unequivically that had police intervened, the tragedy would have been prevented...and police then covered up their negligence. Wow.

[marions ghost]

4. That is interesting

--didn't know this. I do believe these killers exhibit signs and symptoms.

But I know the police won't do much. We had a kid with a high-powered rifle terrorizing the neighborhood. Would shoot randomly from time to time. Many complaints, but no action. The parents would not cooperate with police, so nothing was done. This is absurd.

[Little Star]

5. I also believe they show signs & symptoms and

that many times the police either don't or sometimes can't take action when called upon.