Post by qmanfan on Sept 5, 2017 17:45:39 GMT
I'm new to this board but I've done quite a bit of background reading about these ONS/EAR cases and the perpetrator. My question is why is it generally believed that this is an intelligent, articulate individual? From the victims' statements and recounting of their crimes, he repeats himself, talks to himself, does bizarre things and so it would not seem we are dealing with a necessarily intelligent person. There are indication of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. If this person was in his late teens/early 20s these symptoms would just be emerging. He seems to have been good at prowling and getting away from police but from that we can't make the assumption that he was not a socially awkward individual. He could have had Asperger's Syndrome AND a schizoaffective disorder. These are not mutually exclusive. His dormant time from 1981-1985 could just be an indication that he was properly medicated. Similarly, after 1986 he could have gone back on medication. Or his schizoaffective disorder/schizophrenia could have progressed to the point where he was no longer functional in society at all. He may have become homeless.
If we judge the writing he left behind at scenes or mailed to the newspaper, this individual is disordered and would stand out amongst same-age peers.
During the time that he was active he could have been employed (perhaps on and off) in a low functionality type job (such as tow truck driver) where he did not have to interact with the public much. Or he may have been unemployed and living with his parents who may have moved around. I just would not rule out that this person does not have some type of schizo- disorder, if not full-blow schizophrenia. He is the perfect age for developing it and it may have not been immediately evident to his parents or siblings. He may have always been considered some type of oddball. These things may have also disqualified him from military service. Or he may have briefly served (look at time gaps) and been medically discharged.
This is just my opinion and, certainly, a lot of people here have spent a lot more time than I have studying this case and know a lot more than I do. I am a behavioral scientist (PhD) but I have no background in forensic behavior. (end of gardencat post) (i fudged the quote)
Interesting take on the perp by a behavioral scientist. Gardencat makes a case for medication being the reason the EARONS crimes stopped. I don't think it should be completely thrown away because we, without our PhD's in behavioral science, think he can't be so prolific as a schizo. I'm intrigued by the spectrum, the age at which it manifests, and the ability of someone to plan and prioritize life in such a way when on the low end of said spectrum. The EAR did mention a stay at a local mental hospital to one of the victims. A ruse, perhaps, but nothing should be overlooked. Unfortunately it's practical to search yearbooks, and find alike looking faces to composites, check their background, and formulate the poi. However, mental patients won't show up in any background check, as far as I know. So are we completely SOL along that avenue?