June 10, 2009

"After everything we had heard, I was picturing a monster..."

"Here was someone who had dreamed up a scheme to murder her family and manipulated people into carrying out her plan. And then in walks this tiny, meek, blond-headed girl who couldn’t fight her way out of a wet paper sack."

(Via Metafilter.)

53 comments:

Kate Gosselin said...

Couldn't she have just made their lives a living hell by being a bitch all the time? I've heard that works.

Heather said...

That was messed up.

Anonymous said...

After reading the article, it is clear that she is a monster (sociopath, I'd say), just one in attractive packaging. The final paragraphs seal the deal on that conclusion.

Methadras said...

This is how Black Widows are made. She just happened to be young and got caught. What a shame and I hope she rots in hell.

traditionalguy said...

The sociopaths are emerging everywhere. Who rang the bell? Could it be that Obama's slaughter of the law in the Chrysler/GM bondholders rape for a political payoff? When the restraints of the law are thrown out, then open season is been declared upon everyone.

kentuckyliz said...

This is a perfect example of what Dr. Helen and her commentariat go on about. The girl was a criminal mastermind, clearly in charge, and yet she acts like a helpless waif and gets a lighter sentence. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I would have happily pushed the plunger on this murderous bitch if it were legal to do so. She doesn't deserve to get out of prison at age 59. And then what? Work as a carhop for six more years until she can retire and start drawing Social Security? She's a welfare queen without ever having a baby. A lifelong state dependent the moment she murdered her family.

David said...

Yeah, right, Obama is responsible for this murder. What a bunch of crap. That comment goes beyond stupid into the land of total derangement.

Darconville said...

Whoa, it's like I'm back in 1963 and no one has yet heard of the concept of the banality of evil.

Anonymous said...

A government money grab in June 2009 causing a shooting in March 2008 would be a pretty neat trick. I blame Bush.

bearbee said...

Booking photo. She looks menacing.

Erin Caffey

traditionalguy said...

David...The removal of legal authority as a restraint opens up a door of permission to do whatever is in any one's heart. That bell has been rung by Pelossi/Reid and their new President over the money of all Americans. Ask the chinese media if the American media cannot report that reality. The Obama Speech to the Muslim Religion given in Cairo opened the door of restraint to an Israeli-Iranian War. Ask the wise Egyptian Mubarack, if the American State Department wont admit it. Murdering ones enemies in place of living in a Pax-Americana from using our strength is starting up everywhere as we speak.

Tibore said...

Some details are given here that are missing from the Texas Monthly story. Among them:

""Preliminary autopsy reports show "all three (of the victims remaining in the house) suffered from smoke inhalation, which means they were still breathing when the house was on fire."

There's something utterly horrific about that level of hate in such a young person. She had no perspective; all she had to do was wait a couple or three years until she was an adult, and then it wouldn't matter what her parents thought of her boyfriend. While she was too young to truly understand the depravity of her act, I actually think that's actually a culpatory, not migitaging factor: Her youth allowed her to refuse to separate selfishness from evil and allowed her to willingly consider an evil act in order to further her selfishness. That she didn't have the in-depth appreciation of the destructiveness of evil that maturity can give a person doesn't excuse her from refusing to respect the very clear boundary between killing and not killing, which is something completely understandable at her age. It merely gave her the excuse to ignore it.

A non-life sentence is light for this girl. Nevermind the fact that she'll be in her 50's when she gets out.

Freeman Hunt said...

Why on Earth would the sentencing allow this sociopath to be free again? She's clearly a danger, and she clearly always will be. I don't understand the light sentence.

Shanna said...

She looks creepy in that picture.

AlphaLiberal said...

Speaking of killing, more rightist terrorism today, this time at the Holocaust Museum.

NPR reported this AM that shortages of ammo persist as panic buying continues by right wingers. Why they are stocking up on guns and ammo I can't say for sure (ideas?) but it is a disturbing trend.

Have I missed the calls for calm from conservative leaders? Any examples out there? Seems more like the opposite.

robinintn said...

One of her shrinks, in possession of all the facts, says:

“I still long for the day when I know what was hurting her bad enough to make such a decision.”

Which is why that profession has so little credibility.

traditionalguy said...

A L...The right wing does not include anti-semitic cult members. Unlike the Dems, we throw them out as fast as they pop their heads up.

AlphaLiberal said...

TG:

A L...The right wing does not include anti-semitic cult members. .

Really? You might want to toss out Pat Buchanan, then.

During the Gulf crisis: "There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the Middle East -- the Israeli defense ministry and its 'amen corner' in the United States." (McLaughlin Group, 8/26/90)

In a 1977 column, Buchanan said that despite Hitler's anti-Semitic and genocidal tendencies, he was "an individual of great courage.... Hitler's success was not based on his extraordinary gifts alone. His genius was an intuitive sense of the mushiness, the character flaws, the weakness masquerading as morality that was in the hearts of the statesmen who stood in his path." (Guardian, 1/14/92)

Writing of "group fantasies of martyrdom," Buchanan challenged the historical record that thousands of Jews were gassed to death by diesel exhaust at Treblinka: "Diesel engines do not emit enough carbon monoxide to kill anybody." (New Republic, 10/22/90) Buchanan's columns have run in the Liberty Lobby's Spotlight, the German-American National PAC newsletter and other publications that claim Nazi death camps are a Zionist concoction.

Buchanan called for closing the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations, which prosecuted Nazi war criminals, because it was "running down 70-year-old camp guards." (New York Times, 4/21/87)

Buchanan was vehement in pushing President Reagan -- despite protests -- to visit Germany's Bitburg cemetery, where Nazi SS troops were buried. At a White House meeting, Buchanan reportedly reminded Jewish leaders that they were "Americans first" -- and repeatedly scrawled the phrase "Succumbing to the pressure of the Jews" in his notebook. Buchanan was credited with crafting Ronald Reagan's line that the SS troops buried at Bitburg were "victims just as surely as the victims in the concentration camps." (New York Times, 5/16/85; New Republic, 1/22/96)

More here:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2553

John said...

"A L...The right wing does not include anti-semitic cult members. .

Really? You might want to toss out Pat Buchanan, then. "


We have. Buchanan is very much a leftist economically. He professes a real distain for global capitalism. He hates Isreal and is very sympathetic to the Palistinian cause. Truthfully Beta, you ought to look into Buchanan. I think you would agree with most of what he says. Once the dissillusionment with The Obama sets in, Buchanan might be an alternative. Seriously. He is weak on gay issues, but so is Obama.

Paddy O said...

She is certainly full of fervor.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Speaking of killing, more rightist terrorism today, this time at the Holocaust Museum. .

Alpha you really are a patheic fuck. Rightest terrorism? I suppose that American soldier killed in Arkansas by the Muslim convert was just an 'unfortunate occurance' in your world right? Or did you even know about it?

TosaGuy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TosaGuy said...

"Speaking of killing, more rightist terrorism today, this time at the Holocaust Museum. ."

Speaking of (attempted) killing, more cyclist terrorism yesterday, this time in the trendy Walker's Point section of Milwaukee by a guy on a bicycle who shot two police officers.

Jeremy said...

traditionalguy said..."The sociopaths are emerging everywhere. Who rang the bell? Could it be that Obama's slaughter of the law in the Chrysler/GM bondholders rape for a political payoff? When the restraints of the law are thrown out, then open season is been declared upon everyone."

And people here wonder why I say there some regulars who are completely out of their fucking minds?

Jeremy said...

TosaGuy said..."Speaking of (attempted) killing, more cyclist terrorism yesterday, this time in the trendy Walker's Point section of Milwaukee by a guy on a bicycle who shot two police officers."

Wingnuts ride bikes.

Jeremy said...

traditionalguy said..."David...The removal of legal authority as a restraint opens up a door of permission to do whatever is in any one's heart."

Obama has removed "legal authority?"

How?

Where?

When??

Jeremy said...

traditionalguy - You're a 64 year old attorney?

Good lord...

Shanna said...

Really? You might want to toss out Pat Buchanan, then. .

Remember when Pat Buchanan joined the reform party, because none of the republicans wanted him? Does that count?

I suppose that American soldier killed in Arkansas by the Muslim convert was just an 'unfortunate occurance' in your world right? Or did you even know about it?
.

Holy crap, is that what that was about? I saw a teaser for the local news on a memorial for a soldier but I didn’t catch the episode…

AlphaLiberal said...

? I suppose that American soldier killed in Arkansas by the Muslim convert was just an 'unfortunate occurance' in your world right? Or did you even know about it? .

I know about it and lament it. From what we heard from the shooter, he sounded a bit off his rocker.

The thing is, there is no corresponding history of liberal leaders calling soldiers killers, calling for makinh soldiers "targets", or of similar incidents.

It's an isolated incidence.

OTOH, we have now have a string of politically motivated killings by people on the right and incendiary language often invoking violence, from conservative leaders.

All that while the right wing is stocking up on guns and ammo around the country.

There is no comparison.

Methadras said...

"AlphaLiberal said...

Speaking of killing, more rightist terrorism today, this time at the Holocaust Museum.

NPR reported this AM that shortages of ammo persist as panic buying continues by right wingers. Why they are stocking up on guns and ammo I can't say for sure (ideas?) but it is a disturbing trend.

Have I missed the calls for calm from conservative leaders? Any examples out there? Seems more like the opposite."

Hey idiot. Yes you, you embarrasment to humanity. This shooting was perpetrated by a White Supremacist, Nazi, Jew hating nut and I will not allow you to lump in or associate that kind of subhuman trash with being being on the right. You won't get away with it while I'm here. Spread you moronic lies elsewhere.

John said...

"The thing is, there is no corresponding history of liberal leaders calling soldiers killers, calling for makinh soldiers "targets", or of similar incidents."

What exactly has the right said about Jews this century? Last I looked it was the left who marches hand in hand with Hezbollah, leads demonstrations demanding devestment in Isreal and says that Isreal is the biggest threat to peace in the world. If anything, this is a case of leftist violence. Certainly, Obama's open distain for Israel doesn't exactly discourage this kind of violence.

The right has been stedfast defenders of Israel for 20 years now. Nutcases like Buchanan have long since left the mainstream right. In contrast, the left has become increasingly anti-semetic (see the infamous Mereshimer and Walt paper). Sorry Beta, but this kind of violence belongs to the left now not the right.

Hoosier Daddy said...

The thing is, there is no corresponding history of liberal leaders calling soldiers killers, calling for makinh soldiers "targets", or of similar incidents. .

You have got to be kidding me.

Rockport Conservative said...

Tibore said "While she was too young to truly understand the depravity of her act, I actually think that's actually a culpatory, not migitaging factor: Her youth allowed her to refuse to separate selfishness from evil and allowed her to willingly consider an evil act in order to further her selfishness."
We were all that age once and all of our forbears were also. Yet it is very uncommon because we are old enough at that age to know the depravity of such an act. Many people in the past were raising families at that age.

yashu said...

(Is that really traditionalguy commenting above? It doesn't sound like him. If it is, my apologies.)

This is about as bone-chilling a story as I've ever read. (As much as it seems another in an endless series of very distinct archetype- getting the boyfriend to kill the parents.) Absolutely, the girl is a sociopath: the psychiatric diagnosis provides a tiny measure of comfort, an iota of reason/cause in the face of such darkness. But the susceptibility of ostensibly non-sociopathic others (as often as we see it) is almost as difficult to comprehend, or I should say, accept. Killing the kids, is the thing. Her little brothers. There are no words.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Why they are stocking up on guns and ammo I can't say for sure (ideas?) but it is a disturbing trend.

Speaking for the Conservatives that I know where I live:

Because when the shit hits the fan, society and the economy collapses because of the Obama policies, and all the liberal, whining, anti gun weenies come streaming out of the cities like locusts.....we will be ready WILLING and able to protect ourselves against looters and freeloaders.

And because the government will have no ability or will to protect us. In fact the government IS the enemy.

It is the ant and the grasshopper thing. Except this time the ants are going to be armed.

Synova said...

"The thing is, there is no corresponding history of liberal leaders calling soldiers killers,.."

I simply wanted to enjoy that statement again.

bagoh20 said...

"bearbee said...

Booking photo. She looks menacing."


Yea, I agree. She does not look like the angelic description in the story. Most girls I have known with that look were down right dangerous mean. She looks like a number of girls I knew when growing up and none were nice naive girls. Just calling em like I see em.

bagoh20 said...

""The thing is, there is no corresponding history of liberal leaders calling soldiers killers,.."

I simply wanted to enjoy that statement again."


Let's enjoy it even again together...Ahh that's precious.

Kinda reminds me of the denial in the mind of that girl's boyfriend from the story.

knox said...

Except for a few, stupidest thread ever.

Balfegor said...

The thing is, there is no corresponding history of liberal leaders calling soldiers killers, calling for makinh soldiers "targets", or of similar incidents.

Hahaha, are you serious?

Revenant said...

Really? You might want to toss out Pat Buchanan, then.

Toss him out of what?

veni vidi vici said...

"Booking photo. She looks menacing.

Erin Caffey"


Is it a booking photo etiquette thing, or do people generally look like they've got the intelligence of a soda pop bottle in booking photos/mugshots?

veni vidi vici said...

That story was very, very sad.

Not to sound callous, but it would make a helluva MOW on broadcast TV.

Unknown said...

What kind of an idiot thinks monsters are identifiable by sight?

As for her not understanding the depravity of her actions? Horseshit. My friggin' granddaughter of five understands you don't kill people.

She should fry.

Penny said...

"Except for a few, stupidest thread ever."

I am less concerned about stupid threads than I am about people who play "follow the leader", as if there were no consequences. Talk about your kid's games gone awry.

Laura(southernxyl) said...

"Once a month, Terry makes the three-hour trip to Gatesville, where Erin is incarcerated. At his urging, she received a lesser sentence than life without parole; he wanted to make sure that she had something to live for, he said."

Wow. Talk about unconditional love.

"I still long for the day when I know what was hurting her bad enough to make such a decision."

I'm not convinced that anything was hurting her. I'd like to know how she could be such a heartless person, though. Is there such a thing as a bad seed, really?

kentuckyliz said...

Makes me think of Juliet Lewis singing "Born Bad" in the movie "Natural Born Killers". Maybe I will watch that again in honor of Erin Caffey and her boyfriend and friends.

The Johnson girl's an idiot too. I would have told my parents as soon as I got home and called the police and made a statement. She might have feared for her life in the situation but she didn't act innocent afterwards.

Geoffrey--I agree. Hannah Arendt's "the banality of evil" immediately came to mind for me as I read the article.

Dr. Helen would also strive to understand and sympathize with the murderess, like she did with "Six." I know the six youths who killed that family in a rest area in Tennessee--they are from my neighborhood. I also know the seventh girl who felt GUILTY for mot being with them because she had been in a car accident and was recuperating at home, so she missed out on the hot action of MURDERING STRANGERS WITH HER FRIENDS. pfffft

Anonymous said...

Once a month, Terry makes the three-hour trip to Gatesville, where Erin is incarcerated.

Hmmm, a women's prison, I wouldn't mind having the dildo concession there.

Peter

traditionalguy said...

Jeremy... The removal of legal authority happened when the Government took away half of our money by inflating the American Dollar out of sight and giving away what's left to to the Democrat's political supporters. The Federal Reserve in cooperation with the Preident sent the rest of the borrowed money to their friends on Wallstreet so they will not need the loans we will pay 20% interest for if we can even find a Bank that lends money at all. By this time next year prices will have doubled and incomes fallen by half and taxes thru energy cost add ons doubled for the middle-class. The wisdom of using America's military to defend America's allies in the world has already ended. Lots of luck out there finding a job.

Beth said...

The boyfriend's words: “I would have done anything for her,” he said. “She was very smart. Very caring. I don’t know why she wanted it done, why it had to be like that, but she was a very nice person.”

It had to be like that because he picked up a gun and a knife and used them to slaughter a family. Nothing "had to be like that" - he chose to do what he did. This just amazes me - over and over, the actual murderers say this girl was in charge, they tried to change her mind, but oh well, couldn't do it! Had to kill 'em! Sorry. Kind of.

a psychiatrist who learned from veterans said...

Re: the psychiatrist who wanted to know 'why she was so angry at her parents,' I'd say the key reference for decoding her psyche is Freud's 'Totem and Taboo.'

Synova said...

We mistake understanding "why" with excusing an action.

The quotes of the psychiatrist at the end baffled me somewhat because he (he?) thought there should be a *reason*... and there wasn't.

But there was a reason... there just wasn't an excuse.

a psychiatrist who learned from veterans said...
This comment has been removed by the author.