Sick World. Bad parenting? Sociopath???

[Belquar]

WTF is wrong with this world??? JEEBUS.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A 13-year-old choked and beat his 8-year-old brother to death because the younger boy ate a dessert and the older one worried he would be blamed, authorities said Wednesday.

Demetrius Key was arrested on first-degree murder. The boys' mother, Tangela Key, told police she was visiting a cousin nearby and left him in charge of Levares Key and other younger siblings Saturday.

A neighbor told investigators she heard four loud bangs, followed by 10 minutes of quiet and then more commotion, according to an Orange County Sheriff's Office news release.

Demetrius Key went to the cousin's house and told his mother his brother was "passed out," the sheriff's office said. The younger boy was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Demetrius Key initially said he hit his brother with a metal shelf support, investigators said. After investigators searched the house, he said he used a broom handle, the sheriff's office said.

He then told the detective he punched the boy, choked him and banged his head on the floor, according to an affidavit.

"Demetrius offered that Levares upset him by eating a dessert that (he) was not to have eaten," Detective Appling Wells wrote. "He also advised Levares upset him by picking a scab and causing it to bleed.

"Demetrius said he feared Levares would blame both circumstances on him and tell his mother he had struck him and eaten the dessert."

The sheriff's office would not say what the dessert was.

Orange County Medical Examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia ruled the death a homicide from closed head injuries.

Tangela Key does not have a listed telephone number. The sheriff's office did not immediately know whether Demetrius Key had an attorney.

[Hodag]

Cain vs. Abel

its happened before

[James.A]

Cain vs. Abel

its happened before

It'll happen agian, gauranteed.

[Belquar]

It has happened before and will again, but it takes a "special" sort to beat someone to death. Very sad. We love our children unconditionally, but what if your child kills your other child? That is a pretty big condition to deal with.

[jdmetzger]

It has happened before and will again, but it takes a "special" sort to beat someone to death. Very sad. We love our children unconditionally, but what if your child kills your other child? That is a pretty big condition to deal with.

I'm sure he we raised by model parents.

[aerialfilm1]

Do you want this kid sharing a classroom with your child??

I say give the boy some of that special J. Jones Kool-Aide and get him off the books now.

[BubbaZanetti]

the mind of a 13 year old can be a crazy place, luckily, for myself i had, at that age, good parents, loving family, a strong group of relatively upstanding friends, clubs and organizations i belonged to and enjoyed doing well in school, so i didn't have a lot of time to brood

unfortunately, not everyone can be so lucky

13 is still what i consider a little young to be "fully responsible"

[jdmetzger]

13 is still what i consider a little young to be "fully responsible"

True. That's why the parents should be punished.

This reminds me of a fiction novel I was told about. It was set in the future; sort of a sci-fi thing. Anyhow, to cut down on welfare and people having kids just for the money (and people having kids that indeed should NOT) the government offered money to the people if they would get sterilized. It was totally voluntary, of course. So, many of them would get sterilized, but then they would take their cash and blow it on useless crap in short order. This was an extra benefit, because it's not like they held the money; it went right back into the economy. The "poor" neighborhoods were generally overrun with expensive cars that people couldn't afford to drive, or couldn't afford to fix.

Seems like an interesting idea, sometimes. I'm sure a number of non-profit legal groups would have something to say about it... but there are a LOT of people who should never be able to reproduce.

[RandallIsland]

This reminds me of a fiction novel I was told about. It was set in the future; sort of a sci-fi thing. Anyhow, to cut down on welfare and people having kids just for the money (and people having kids that indeed should NOT) the government offered money to the people if they would get sterilized.

And that reminds me of Idaho, where for the longest time, a commercial aired on local modern rock radio touted the benefits of having a vasectomy...

[ltljohn]

True. That's why the parents should be punished.

This reminds me of a fiction novel I was told about. It was set in the future; sort of a sci-fi thing. Anyhow, to cut down on welfare and people having kids just for the money (and people having kids that indeed should NOT) the government offered money to the people if they would get sterilized. It was totally voluntary, of course. So, many of them would get sterilized, but then they would take their cash and blow it on useless crap in short order. This was an extra benefit, because it's not like they held the money; it went right back into the economy. The "poor" neighborhoods were generally overrun with expensive cars that people couldn't afford to drive, or couldn't afford to fix.

Seems like an interesting idea, sometimes. I'm sure a number of non-profit legal groups would have something to say about it... but there are a LOT of people who should never be able to reproduce.

As a parent I can't possibly imagine living with the memory of one son killing the other, how much worse could you punish someone?

[Rapid_Roy]

When my daughter got sick, they asked what we would do. I didn't know what they meant. They clarified and asked if we wanted to put her in a home, some parents do.
I was shocked and hadn't even considered that an option.

As a parent, you are always worried about doing the right thing (or should be IMO). It appears that this Mother should wonder for the rest of her life what happened, and if she did the right thing. This story is sad. So many shattered lives, and IMO, he was too young to babysit like that.

[tessler]

When my daughter got sick, they asked what we would do. I didn't know what they meant. They clarified and asked if we wanted to put her in a home, some parents do.
I was shocked and hadn't even considered that an option.

As a parent, you are always worried about doing the right thing (or should be IMO). It appears that this Mother should wonder for the rest of her life what happened, and if she did the right thing. This story is sad. So many shattered lives, and IMO, he was too young to babysit like that.
+1

Well said, Roy.

[sjbmw]

True. That's why the parents should be punished.

This reminds me of a fiction novel I was told about. It was set in the future; sort of a sci-fi thing. Anyhow, to cut down on welfare and people having kids just for the money (and people having kids that indeed should NOT) the government offered money to the people if they would get sterilized. It was totally voluntary, of course. So, many of them would get sterilized, but then they would take their cash and blow it on useless crap in short order. This was an extra benefit, because it's not like they held the money; it went right back into the economy. The "poor" neighborhoods were generally overrun with expensive cars that people couldn't afford to drive, or couldn't afford to fix.

Seems like an interesting idea, sometimes. I'm sure a number of non-profit legal groups would have something to say about it... but there are a LOT of people who should never be able to reproduce.

13 is a fine age to babysit. My kid started earning pocket cash at 12.

Why is it that we as a society have lost the notion that EVIL exists, it will always exist, and there is no magic formula to eradicate it?
Whenever evil rears it's ugly head, there must be some cause OUTSIDE the evil doer, as if he really is not responsible for his evil.

I remember growing up with some kids from fine upbringing, that got off on the combination of cats, and fireworks. It was disgusting, and they were not my friends for long. But their parents were not responsible for their wacked out behavior, any more than I was.

What the issue is today is really light speed communications. We as a species have not figured out how to deal with the visual sensory overload of news bombardment and the desire for easy explanations to make sense of it all drives us to assign blame other than where is should be.

Evil exists. People do evil things, because they like it, or the emotional burst is satisfying.

The turd has no clean end.

[hlothery]

13 is a fine age to babysit. My kid started earning pocket cash at 12.

Why is it that we as a society have lost the notion that EVIL exists, it will always exist, and there is no magic formula to eradicate it?
Whenever evil rears it's ugly head, there must be some cause OUTSIDE the evil doer, as if he really is not responsible for his evil.

I remember growing up with some kids from fine upbringing, that got off on the combination of cats, and fireworks. It was disgusting, and they were not my friends for long. But their parents were not responsible for their wacked out behavior, any more than I was.

What the issue is today is really light speed communications. We as a species have not figured out how to deal with the visual sensory overload of news bombardment and the desire for easy explanations to make sense of it all drives us to assign blame other than where is should be.

Evil exists. People do evil things, because they like it, or the emotional burst is satisfying.

The turd has no clean end.

Agree wholeheartedly.......that's why there is a flush lever (well, at least there is in Texas)

[jdmetzger]

13 is a fine age to babysit. My kid started earning pocket cash at 12.

Why is it that we as a society have lost the notion that EVIL exists, it will always exist, and there is no magic formula to eradicate it?
Whenever evil rears it's ugly head, there must be some cause OUTSIDE the evil doer, as if he really is not responsible for his evil.

I remember growing up with some kids from fine upbringing, that got off on the combination of cats, and fireworks. It was disgusting, and they were not my friends for long. But their parents were not responsible for their wacked out behavior, any more than I was.

What the issue is today is really light speed communications. We as a species have not figured out how to deal with the visual sensory overload of news bombardment and the desire for easy explanations to make sense of it all drives us to assign blame other than where is should be.

Evil exists. People do evil things, because they like it, or the emotional burst is satisfying.

The turd has no clean end.

I would question "fine upbringing" if they were torturing and killing cats. Just because things appear fine doesn't mean they haven't seen that type of behavior from an adult in their life. I would say there is probably some very small percentage of people who indeed will have problems regardless of their upbringing. The question then is can nurture overrule nature? Maybe not. Still, a truly attentive and loving parent is going to see there is some sort of issue and try to get help, be it therapy or medication. By not intervening in negative behaviors they are just as guilty for enabling it. I'm sure it's easier to ignore the warning signs instead of actually DOING something. Then, when little Johnny beats his brother to death, they are so shocked and appalled; "he was always such a good boy!". It's a shame the parents were so busy partying/sleeping/watching American Idol that they couldn't spend some QUALITY time with their child. Sure, they drove them to soccer practice and to their friends house and to school, but maybe they were on their cell phone the whole time, instead of talking with their child. Novel idea, huh? Some people are a bit too selfish to have children. Then when their kids do something wrong they try to play the victim, themselves. How could my child DO this? Oh my! Crocodile tears follow. They're not so worried about the kid, they're worried about what everyone will think of them.

Where do you think those cat killers are, today? Do you think their kids have any more respect for life? Probably less, I would say.

I once saw a guy in my neighborhood holding down his dog and beating it with it's own leash, while his very young daughter looked on. I was with a girlfriend at the time (who actually saw it first) and gave him a good yelling at. He walked the dog like a "good owner" all the time, but it also walked hunched over like.... surprise, a beaten dog. In the meantime, now his daughter thinks it's OK to do that because daddy does it. Of course, people who beat animals are also likely to be spouse and child abusers. Maybe those cat killers saw daddy kick the cat around the house, so they figured fireworks wasn't much worse?

[Rapid_Roy]

+1

Well said, Roy.
Thank you. Occasionally, I am coherent. Today was a good day.


I understand the consternation about baby sitting age, that is why I said IMO.
I should say , it depends on the child.
It seems others have different opinions, but we can all agree that this boy wasn't right to babysit at 13 for some reason. What caused that behavior, I can only guess.
I also wasn't "blaming" the mom per se, she has got enough to deal with right now.
This child has also lost a brother (through his own actions) but the effect is the same.
He will never get back to "normal" again.

[knary]

I remember throwing a large knife in anger at my brother when I was 13. The throw was off the mark, but if it had been...

I was (am?) a good kid from a good stable home with good parents that set clear expectations. But the line between good and very bad can be very thin at that age.

[jdmetzger]

Proactive girlfriends can be a problem. The way she yelled at that stranger with a dog is the same way she would yell at you in six months. Her big mouth would have gotten you both killed in the Hood. Glad you dumped her for safety sake. Just imagine how your kids would have been like with the gene pool mix ?

It's both funny and sad you say that. She WAS fond of yelling. I had a number of disagreements with her attitude. I still remember how appalled I was with her treatment of an airline employee, regardless of whether or not she was "right". She was very outspoken. She always said it was a Dutch trait, but many of the others I met weren't like that; even in her own family. The fighting was killing me. Months after our split, all these odd health problems I had magically went away. In the end, it was all stress related, and it was literally killing me. It was a learning experience in what I don't want or need. :fight

[OfficerImpersonator]

You need a license to drive a car. You need an even more specialized license to ride a motorcycle. You need a license to start a business, get married, build a house, cut down trees, and travel abroad.

Any dumb fool can reproduce.

That's what's wrong with this world.

[jdmetzger]

You need a license to drive a car. You need an even more specialized license to ride a motorcycle. You need a license to start a business, get married, build a house, cut down trees, and travel abroad.

Any dumb fool can reproduce.

That's what's wrong with this world.

:thumb

[Rapid_Roy]

You need a license to drive a car. You need an even more specialized license to ride a motorcycle. You need a license to start a business, get married, build a house, cut down trees, and travel abroad.

Any dumb fool can reproduce.

.....
Yeah, it worked for me.

[MplsK100RT]

the mind of a 13 year old can be a crazy place, luckily, for myself i had, at that age, good parents, loving family, a strong group of relatively upstanding friends, clubs and organizations i belonged to and enjoyed doing well in school, so i didn't have a lot of time to brood

unfortunately, not everyone can be so lucky

13 is still what i consider a little young to be "fully responsible"

Well said. regardless of how disgusting a crime this is the brain of a 13 may know and under most circumstances understand right from wrong, but when it comes to a situation where obvious coping is necessary that part of the brain is not yet developed. I don't want him in my school, either, but it's about time parents start being charged with the crimes of their minor children.

[MplsK100RT]

And that reminds me of Idaho, where for the longest time, a commercial aired on local modern rock radio touted the benefits of having a vasectomy...

Do a search for 'A Modest Proposal' Now he had a great idea.

j/k

[KGT1200]

The situation shall remain nameless, but I worked with a kid who had his two friends get in a trunk of a junk car, then he set it on fire "for a joke". Homicide times two., but since he was only 12 at the time, he was sentenced to counseling after his year in juvy. Manslaughter was the charge pled out in court.

No eye contact with this kid. Chain smoking coffee swilling punk, covered with bic tattoos. 14 yr old when I met him...Juvy did him a world of good.

Matter in fact Im not sure what would of been the right thing...maybe shoot the parents might of helped though...