GUILTY Australia - Robert, 66, & Cheryl Adamson, 60, murdered, Murrumbeena, Vic, 19 Feb 2014

[SouthAussie]

From Isisrising's link ^^^^

Another neighbour said Hemming’s parents, believed to be called Colleen and Leigh, left the family home they have lived in for 36 years earlier this week and have not returned.

The house is 190m from the Adamson’s family home.

Did they know their son was involved? They were apparently home when the murder took place, as Colleen spoke to the press.

Maybe they left, then informed police of their suspicions?


(Haha .... snap, Isis!)

 

[Brightbird]

So being a neighbour I guess it could still have been robbery, but it does open up the possibility that the attack was planned. The son was away right? I don't think that was a coincidence. Or maybe he thought the whole family was away. I just can't imagine a 21 year old having a murderous grudge against his middle aged neighbours. None that makes 'sense' anyway. Well, my curiosity is piqued now. I wonder if all the evidence was left at house, or was he so sloppy it led directly to his house. How devastating for both families.

 

[MsAnais]

So being a neighbour I guess it could still have been robbery, but it does open up the possibility that the attack was planned. The son was away right? I don't think that was a coincidence. Or maybe he thought the whole family was away. I just can't imagine a 21 year old having a murderous grudge against his middle aged neighbours. None that makes 'sense' anyway. Well, my curiosity is piqued now. I wonder if all the evidence was left at house, or was he so sloppy it led directly to his house. How devastating for both families.

You know, I was just thinking about true crime books I've read - the motive and the crimes are often wilder than a fiction writer would even imagine.

But then again, it could be drug-induced or due to mental illness.....

I too am intrigued by this case.......hopefully we find out what drove him to do this.....:facepalm:

 

[MsAnais]

Still just trying to get my head around the whole 'neighbour' thing - that means Michael Adamson (who is in his late 20's I worked out from his FB page) would have grown up with Thomas Hemming (who is 21).

They'd have known each other their whole lives.

What a terrible, terrible thing this must be for both families :facepalm:

 

[Ausgirl]

Gah, more murders here in Melb..

 

[MsAnais]

Gah, more murders here in Melb..

It DOES seem pretty full on in Melbourne!! What is going on??!!:scared:

 

[Ausgirl]

Dunno, Isis..

This case seems pretty weird. I too would like to know his motive -- I seriously doubt it was robbery of any kind, so my bet is either revenge for something and/ or he isn't right in the head.

 

[Brightbird]

Dunno, Isis..

This case seems pretty weird. I too would like to know his motive -- I seriously doubt it was robbery of any kind, so my bet is either revenge for something and/ or he isn't right in the head.

I'm thinking if it was revenge, something still ain't right in his head. Silly me is trying to think of motives that make sense - square peg, round hole.

The whole neighbour thing disturbs me greatly. I'm trying to block thoughts of the terror that your killer is/was a neighbourhood kid, and he so young, and two of them against just one of him. He must have been so ferocious. Ugh.

 

[Ausgirl]

Yeah, I agree, he deffo had some serious problems anyways, imo.

In all my years in this city, I have rarely locked my back door at night, and sometimes wasn't too careful about the front door. That's how safe I felt, here. Not any more.

 

[Elainera]

Glad an arrest has been made so fast! It must be horrible for the son to know the murderer probably reasonably well.

I wonder if he is the neighbor they had the dispute with over a barking dog?

 

[MsAnais]

So after reading this, I was thinking the boys may not know each other well at all. I don't know the people well in the streets adjacent to mine....although the mother, Colleen, certainly knew who the Adamsons were .

"Mr Hemming lives in an adjacent street from where the Adamsons lived on Omama Road for about 40 years"

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/t...murrumbeena-20140222-338ca.html#ixzz2u1ZcsCuv

This must be a huge shock for the whole neighbourhood:

'A neighbour living near the accused, who asked not to be named, said she was in shock.

"They're lovely parents and they're the ones that I knew. I never knew the son. I only had one conversation with him before."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/t...murrumbeena-20140222-338ca.html#ixzz2u1aAaULL

 

[Plumeria5]

This is so sad. So the mother was at the scene the day of the murder and had no clue her son was involved.

Resident, Colleen Hemming, said the couple were always willing to lend a helping hand around the neighbourhood. "It’s just devastating," Ms Hemming said. "No one deserves to die like this."

http://www.allnewsau.com/news/loving-couple-stabbed-to-death-in-home

And this article where Colleen talks about waving to the Adamson's when they walked their dogs. So, not sure if this has anything to do with the disagreement about barking dogs or not.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...n-200m-from-them/story-fni0fee2-1226834209818

 

[MsAnais]

This is so sad. So the mother was at the scene the day of the murder and had no clue her son was involved.

Resident, Colleen Hemming, said the couple were always willing to lend a helping hand around the neighbourhood. "It’s just devastating," Ms Hemming said. "No one deserves to die like this."

http://www.allnewsau.com/news/loving-couple-stabbed-to-death-in-home

And this article where Colleen talks about waving to the Adamson's when they walked their dogs. So, not sure if this has anything to do with the disagreement about barking dogs or not.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...n-200m-from-them/story-fni0fee2-1226834209818

It really is so, so sad. My heart goes out to both families.

 

[Plumeria5]

It really is so, so sad. My heart goes out to both families.

I agree. The Hemmings were neighbors of the Adamsons for 36 years. Now they have left their home because of what their son has done. Are there any pictures of Thomas yet? I can't seem to find any.

 

[Bazinga]

I live locally too, Bazinga, and have been thinking of everyone at the school. How did the school handle the announcement, and what did they tell all those little kids? Hope your child isn't too traumatised. It must be a very scary idea for a young one.

Thank you. It has been a shock to everyone at the school and the feelings of sadness and grief are written on everyone's faces. The school headmaster sent an email on the Wednesday evening which was quoted in MSM. It was a brief summary of the news and a request that parents sit down and explain in simple terms to their child/ren what has happened so that they are prepared for the next day. On Thursday morning the teachers talked with their students about it and the day was spent focusing on the children, keeping things going, having some fun. Lots of support for any students who were struggling. I think the school has handled it well so far. In the newsletter on Friday there was lovely advice for parents from the school counsellors and some beautiful thoughts about grief and about being part of our community.
I am glad they have arrested someone and I am glad it's not a family member. I'm sure the children will feel better to know the police are going to stop the person hurting anyone else.
It all still feels very surreal but I guess it will start to sink in bit by bit.

 

[Marg from Oz]

I too was wondering if it was over the barking dog. The mother said they waved when they walked their dogs. But did Mr Adamson have words with Mrs Hemmings son again and could the son have just lost it striking Mr. Adamson. He then finished him off so as not to be caught. Maybe Mrs Adamson saw it and he killed her too so there were no witnesses. There has not been any report of robbery that I know of. The Adamsons were apparently found outside. So maybe it happened very quickly from words said and the killer never even entered the house. JMOO

 

[Plumeria5]

I too was wondering if it was over the barking dog. The mother said they waved when they walked their dogs. But did Mr Adamson have words with Mrs Hemmings son again and could the son have just lost it striking Mr. Adamson. He then finished him off so as not to be caught. Maybe Mrs Adamson saw it and he killed her too so there were no witnesses. There has not been any report of robbery that I know of. The Adamsons were apparently found outside. So maybe it happened very quickly from words said and the killer never even entered the house. JMOO

I think that is very likely. There is a walking path all along the right side of their property that I would guess people walked their dogs on. They have a tall wood fence that separated their property from the path. The fact that Mrs. Hemming said they waved to the Adamson's while walking their dogs suggests to me the Adamson's would have had to be in their front yard on those occasions because the front fence is very low. Just guessing that the son could have been walking the dogs the night before, words were exchanged, son took the dogs home then entered the Adamson's property from the front going around to the backyard confronting the Adamsons.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-37.89...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sXNDo7d2WXtF-1fKbxQVUXg!2e0

 

[Ausgirl]

Equally, it might have been the voices in his head..

I really have to wonder whether he's had previous psychiatric issues.

And yeah, it's sometimes hard to know how to feel about the parents of killers. In so many cases, the parents have contributed heavily to their kids being that messed up, and my sympathy for them does not abound. However, where's been no contributing abuse, it's utterly heartbreaking. Imagine being a good parent, and your child growing up to be responsible for something like this..

 

[MsAnais]

Equally, it might have been the voices in his head..

I really have to wonder whether he's had previous psychiatric issues.

And yeah, it's sometimes hard to know how to feel about the parents of killers. In so many cases, the parents have contributed heavily to their kids being that messed up, and my sympathy for them does not abound. However, where's been no contributing abuse, it's utterly heartbreaking. Imagine being a good parent, and your child growing up to be responsible for something like this..

I know what you mean, Ausgirl - I'm trying to give these ones the benefit of the doubt until I'm told otherwise.

But sadly, my professional experience has shown me that the vast majority of criminals come from houses with very serious dysfunction (even if they may appear okay on the surface)!:facepalm:

 

[MsAnais]

Just thinking about other possible motives.....I wonder if he had any involvement with their daughter? Disgruntled ex? Wannabe boyfriend who was rejected?

May be nothing to do with that at all, but it's another angle.

But I don't know if their daughter is even near his age. She may be the elder sibling.....