My apologies for the length of this post....
I have suffered from depression for 32 years...completely controlled, btw. Over those years I have read and studied every aspect of mental illness. In the beginning of this case my first thoughts leaned toward a mental illness on Casey's part but after all these months I am convinced Casey has Asperger's Syndrome.
I also have 20 years experience with Asperger's Syndrome. My daughter, I'll call her Jane, has it.
Like everyone else, I've been watching KC and trying to figure out what makes her tick. I think we can
all agree that her actions are not "normal" in many ways. There is something about her behavior that is
"odd" but no one has been able to figure out why she does the things she does. I'm not talking about
killing a child. That is something we can't wrap our minds around no matter what the circumstance.
I'm talking about the fact that she is "off the top quirky."
Here are examples:
lack of impulse control (can lead to fits of rage)
not being able to foresee the end result of her action
juggling boyfriends
overly flirtatious
intelligent
language skills (she copies other people)
learned behavior (she copies other people)
sexually inappropriate behavior
stealing (I want it, therefore, I should have it)
From DSM-IV...
Superficially perfect expressive language
Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior
Limited facial expression
Stereotyped or repetitive motor mannerisms
Inappropriate expression
Approaches others only to have own needs met
Detached from feelings of others
talks too much
Impairment of comprehension, including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings
Superior rote memory.
People with Asperger's have an uncanny ability to blend in. Although we will be aware that they are
"different", that difference can be explained away by simply believing they are "quirky" or "step to
the beat of a different drummer." Everyone probably knows someone who is an "Aspie" but doesn't
realize it.
I was lucky. I knew there was something "different" about Jane by the time she was 2 years old. Jane
is adopted but I did have info on her bio-parents(bio mom was bi-polar).
I insisted that she be tested for development delays even when I was told there was nothing wrong. As
it turned out she did meet the criteria for PDD-NOS. But that was in 1990. Asperger's was not
recognized by the DSM-IV until 1994. As she got older (4-6 yo) I was convinced it was more than just
delays. Delays would have evened out by that time and she was still exhibiting "quirky" behavior.
Again I was lucky. I found someone who finally listened and was able to diagnose Jane with Asperger's.
Early intervention was the key to her becoming a well balanced young lady with a career and a bright
future. However, I look at KC and see what Jane may have become if she had been adopted by someone
else.
After all these months of reading and watching this case I would not be the least surprised if KC is an
Aspie.....jmo.
Please understand that having Asperger's would not be an excuse for her alleged actions pertaining to
Caylee's death. Although Aspies often do have violent outbursts because of lack of impulse control; they
know what is socially acceptable and will try to conform to that behavior. However, if they are put in
an unfamiliar situation they will probably behavior abnormally since they haven't had to opportunity to
learn.(riding around with a dead baby in the car?) Usually an Aspie will not lie if their family members are
honest, truthful people, however, if they have seen other people do it or have been told to lie then
they will. Lying is a learned behavior for an Aspie and they will become proficient at it. (since we
have seen and heard CA being less than forthcoming on numerous occasions I would tend to think that KC
has learned it from her...but that is jmo.)
Asperger's has a very wide range. It goes from extremely mild to extremely bizarre. I think Casey may
be off center toward mild. ....imo
Links to references:
http://www.agre.org/program/criteria.cfm?do=program#aspergers
http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html
http://web.syr.edu/~rjkopp/data/as_diag_list.html
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20061103-000002.html
Another thing....GA and CA's behavior is very typical of parents of an Aspie.
Aspies have "triggers." Certain actions or words by a parent will trigger a rage reaction from an
Aspie. GA and CA always seem to be tip-toeing around KC so as to not make her angry. That is evident
by their behavior during their video visitations....imo. An aggressive, controlling parent is an Aspie's
worst nightmare.
Aspie parents are always making excuses for their child's behavior. They will paint the child as the
victim in situations where that is clearly not the case. These parents don't know their child has
Asperger's, they just think the child is purposely defiant.
this is just my opinion...