I keep saying what?!?!?! But, I can give a tiny bit of insight into the questions about why he would go off meds, regarding schizophrenia. I worked in mental health for 16 years. He is at the age where people might have been seeing signs for a couple of years, but its very likely that he was never stabilized on meds, yet. It takes a really long time to get the correct dosage and medication or combo of medications. It is really far from a one size fits all. And to be completely honest, my guys who had the most severe symptoms were very rarely symptom free. They were just stabilized enough to stay out of the hospital and function, usually with guidance and assistance. They never really got to a pre-morbid functioning level.
Just a couple of side notes about Schizophrenia. Someone mentioned i generally doesn't come with violence, which is true. The best way i can describe it is like if your dream state crossed into your reality. Can you imagine? Not knowing if something was real or not? It is absolutely torturous, for those who have to deal with it. Also, it is completely separate from intelligence. So many had graduated from college, made amazing grades, functioned like everyone else, until they didnt. Its one of the worst things I can ever imagine happening to a person, in that it creeps in, when everything seems to be going fine.