This case is a horrible tragedy, and it seems that the sentence is appropriate. I hope the entire family can continue to heal and love each other. I hope that ZH will grow up and do positive things with his life, to honor the life of his mother that he ended so violently.
More about the sentencing from KOBI, including the full text of his father’s very moving letter. He mentions positive activities ZH was involved in before killing his mother.
However, of note IMO is the information revealed by the D.A. that ZH had been (quoting):
“watching very violent games and reading violent graphic novels for a period of time.” He didn’t have a history of violence prior to the crime.
At the time of the stabbing, the boy’s mother, Pamela Wolosz, his grandmother and sister were all inside their home. There didn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary, prosecutors said. While they didn’t provide a clear motive, the district attorney’s office said the boy’s mother took away his computer due to a poor grade in school.
The judge made this comment:
Judge Ravassipour said this has been an extremely difficult case and no words could describe the anguish and betrayal felt by the family,” the district attorney’s office wrote. “She commented that no finding of a psychotic disorder leaves a chilling effect on this courtroom.” The judge also expressed concern about the type of video games the boy was being exposed to.
Ashland boy who murdered his mother sentenced - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2
I have to agree with the judge that it is “chilling” that ZH, a boy with no psychiatric disorder, from a loving family, involved in positive activities and with no history of violence, would commit such an act. The violent video games he was watching came up early in this case on WS and have now been confirmed. Although many disagree, IMO violent games, books, etc. can, in certain people, break down barriers to action under certain circumstances. It seems to me that in ZH’s case this is what happened. JMO, MOO
OR - Pamela Wolosz, 52, killed, daughter injured, 12yo son charged, 10 Jan 2017
We now know that his mother took away his computer because of a bad grade. Early on this thread, we wondered if ZH was mentally ill or came from an abusive home. I think this post by
@oceanblueeyes made good points. Quoting in part:
During the past years of reading numerous cases where a young offender tries or does murder his parent/siblings or both the motives seem to be more based in narcissistic behavior or having a conduct deviance disorder or some type of other disorder which doesn't prevent them from knowing right from wrong.
Children who are abused rarely murder anyone much less attempting to murder other family members. In a lot of these cases the defendant came from a good home and were fully supported by his/her parents yet they seem to fly into a murderous rage over something totally trivial.
We have seen children murder a parent/s because their x-box or computer was taken away...
OR - Pamela Wolosz, 52, killed, daughter injured, 12yo son charged, 10 Jan 2017
Although these facts, thoughts and opinions will never bring Pamela Wolosz back or heals her family’s deep wounds, I hope looking objectively at all the angles of this horrible case can give us insight we can apply in other cases.
My heart goes out to all who loved Pamela.
