This thread has been very informative but, unfortunately, Nicholas B. is a psychopath and his case has little or nothing to do with his upbringing. Watch the interrogation video and you will see. He's given a McDonald's meal and the detective leaves the room to watch his behavior. He's eating his meal with a healthy appetite and doesn't look the least bit uncomfortable. Psychopaths don't have feelings. I believe he told one psychiatrist that he felt detached and in a sort of dream state when he committed these horrendous murders. He discusses the crime in a very matter of fact manner as if describing something that happened at school that day and now he's in the principal's office. The detective is pressing him in the video as to motive for killing his family and asks him about any issues with his mom and dad's disciplinary style. He responded that his father could be "harsh" but not really "THAT harsh". I think it would be dangerous to let him out early because there is no known treatment for psychopathic behavior. And the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.
