AZ - Timothy Romans, 39, & Vincent Romero, 29, slain, St Johns, 5 Nov 2008 - #5

[southcitymom]

Regardless of how much stress he was exposed to his response was completely aberrant...this he knows, his family knows. Please understand that I'm not trying to justify it and neither is the family. He is by no means a young sociopath. In fact most abused kids who kill their parents are not sociopath's. And unfortunately, physical, sexual, emotional or any other kids of abuse doesn't always leave "physical" marks. Often times they "emotinal" marks are the ones that don't heal without years of therapy of loving people in their lives.

Thank you for not giving up on the boy. The family as well as the boy knows that he needs help. He needs help to deal with the anger he has, the grief he has, the future he now has, how to live with him mom instead of his dad.

Oh I would really hate if God forbid that my family dirty laundry ever was aired for the public...although Oprah could spend an entire day on it.

This father and step mother were way more than "too hard on him". The family is not going to scream this from any rooftop. Oh I wish they would, I wish that during the sentencing they would spend sometime talking about what really happened to this young boy...but they will not. Unfortunaly for this boy, most people outside of family and close friends will not know the extent of what happened therefore will continue to speculate. Those records are sealed from the public...but they are there.

I completely agree with your statement that most young killers are NOT sociopaths. I watched this child's videotape a number of times and never saw anything to lead me to believe he was a sociopath.

I feel like I hear what you are saying and that our opinions about what happened in this case are probably actually very similar. Being honest, I'm still having a hard time believing that family wouldn't jump loudly and vocally to his defense if super abusive stuff was going on behind the scenes. That said, I do understand that odd emotional and psychological abuse can be hard to give voice to in a news soundbite that would fully capture the horror of what might have been going on. So you have helped open my mind more on that issue than it was before.

FWIW, I have always been in this boy's corner and have prayed for him and his family since this story first "broke." I have sons (7 and 9) and boys this age are a huge part of my life. I remain hopeful that the Judge and attorneys and police and other adults closely involved with this case are doing whatever they can to give this boy privacy, consequences and help. I know mistakes have been made, but I also believe that all of those people do have the boys best interests at heart.

 

[sdn8tv]

I completely agree with your statement that most young killers are NOT sociopaths. I watched this child's videotape a number of times and never saw anything to lead me to believe he was a sociopath.

I feel like I hear what you are saying and that our opinions about what happened in this case are probably actually very similar. Being honest, I'm still having a hard time believing that family wouldn't jump loudly and vocally to his defense if super abusive stuff was going on behind the scenes. That said, I do understand that odd emotional and psychological abuse can be hard to give voice to in a news soundbite that would fully capture the horror of what might have been going on. So you have helped open my mind more on that issue than it was before.

FWIW, I have always been in this boy's corner and have prayed for him and his family since this story first "broke." I have sons (7 and 9) and boys this age are a huge part of my life. I remain hopeful that the Judge and attorneys and police and other adults closely involved with this case are doing whatever they can to give this boy privacy, consequences and help. I know mistakes have been made, but I also believe that all of those people do have the boys best interests at heart.

So many times I want to tell the family to hollar from the rooftop. It sure would put some of the minds at ease in that crazy little town, but then they would have to admit their beloved was not so straight up. St. John's is such a small town and everybody is related in someway or went to school with somebody. My son is 8 and I was just shocked when heard this little voice on TV. I cannot listen to it...it upsets me too much. I have a printed transcript of it and have read it many times.

I 100% agree the agenda for this boy is privacy, consequences and help. One of the things I have a hard time with is, the boy thinks like any other 8 year old boy. He did something, he got punished (3 months in juvenile) and now is ready to get on with it. His 9 year old mind doesn't understand what the plea agreement meant. He cant go to school, he cant play with other kids, he cant go to ballgames. I'm looking forward to the day when he comes out on the other side...I know he will. I have confidence in him and his mother.

 

[mostlylurking]

Southcitymom meet Sdn8tv. Sdn8tv meet Southcitymom.
My two favorite internet posters whom I know from different places, who I have often wanted to introduce to each other throughout this case, have "met" on their own.
I like it.

 

[southcitymom]

Southcitymom meet Sdn8tv. Sdn8tv meet Southcitymom.
My two favorite internet posters whom I know from different places, who I have often wanted to introduce to each other throughout this case, have "met" on their own.
I like it.

Thank you kindly, mostly! ANY friend of yours is a friend of mine! :blowkiss: I have fully appreciated everything Sdn8tv has shared about this case and her (sorry if you're a "he", Sdn!) posts have really caused some unanswered questions I had in my own mind to click into place for me.

As I have I think made clear in my postings on this case, I have always felt like the child shot these two men, but I have never felt like the child was a sociopath. It goes without saying, for me anyway, that the child felt a great deal of stress and felt trapped. The "whys" of that may not be clear to all of us on the outside, but I believe that they exist.

Frankly, if loved ones of this child are keeping counsel on reasons for his snap, I applaud that - I think it's best for the child to have as much privacy as possible. There is everything to be gained and nothing to be lost from processing and healing pains privately and with those we trust.

I understand that there are those who are more concerned with "justice" and keeping the rest of society safe from random acts of violence than with helping this child heal and have a shot at a decent life, but I am not one of them. I respect that other stance, but that's just not where my heart has lived in this case.

I have held a lot of hope for this child from the beginning and I hold it even more tightly having heard from Sydn8tv.

 

[sdn8tv]

Southcitymom meet Sdn8tv. Sdn8tv meet Southcitymom.
My two favorite internet posters whom I know from different places, who I have often wanted to introduce to each other throughout this case, have "met" on their own.
I like it.

I like it too...you're so sweet. Thanks
P.S...I am a "she"

 

[Linda7NJ]

Anyone know how sentencing went?

 

[Linda7NJ]

Oct 22 @ 9:30 am is sentencing

 

[Linda7NJ]

Update

Oct 22 @9:30 am is sentencing

 

[sdn8tv]

Anyone know how sentencing went?

Some people are really following this case???

 

[Fairy1]

Some people are really following this case???

I am!

 

[azmama]

Some people are really following this case???

Of course I am

 

[mostlylurking]

Some people are really following this case???

Still watching.

 

[Tricia]

Some people are really following this case???

Absolutely we are. This is what we do.

What a tragic case. My God 8 years old.

 

[dgfred]

Yeppers... following closely!!!

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Imo, this boy must have serious behavioral issues!

Placement delays 9-year-old's homicide sentencing

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010102057_apuschildcharged.html#

Whiting and Wood both said the boy may end up being sent to an out-of-state treatment center for treatment.

"Honestly, we're just trying to do the best we can for this kid," Whiting said. "It may never work - he may end up in prison for the rest of his life for other crimes - but we've got to try."

 

[Fairy1]

Imo, this boy must have serious behavioral issues!

Placement delays 9-year-old's homicide sentencing

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010102057_apuschildcharged.html#

Whiting and Wood both said the boy may end up being sent to an out-of-state treatment center for treatment.

"Honestly, we're just trying to do the best we can for this kid," Whiting said. "It may never work - he may end up in prison for the rest of his life for other crimes - but we've got to try."

First question - why is this story in the Seattle Times?

Second question - why is the state of Arizona so tragically ill-equipped to deal with this case - from the get-go?

Third question - why would anyone give any credence to what Whiting has to say about this, if it is true? Self-serving a little?

If there is any truth to this report, then shame on the state of Arizona for failing, quite miserably, to follow the rulings of the court. How friggin difficult is it to perform a psychological evaluation on a child and determine the best course of action?

Does anyone know how Tiffany is doing? I hope she is healing from her accident.

 

[colette]

County attorney Whiting wants a continuance because the boy has a new Guardian Ad Litem, Marsha Gregory, and because of mental health funding problems.

"Other issues include a telephone interview of the juvenile needing to be review by the boy's appointed psychiatrists, one of whom is in an intensive care unit recovering from an illness and the other being unavailable because of a commitment to another trial."

The judge ruled against the continuance:

" The judge said Whiting did not comply with Rule 15 of Juvenile Court Procedures and therefore the motion will be discussed at Thursday's hearing, set for 9:30 a.m.
According to the court, Rule 15 stipulates that any motion has to be provided to all parties, including the probation officer assigned to the case. The probation officer reportedly did not receive a copy. Also, the court said the victims have to be consulted in any motion to continue, and Whiting's motion did not mention the victims."


http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20380640&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6

 

[Trino]

County attorney Whiting wants a continuance because the boy has a new Guardian Ad Litem, Marsha Gregory, and because of mental health funding problems.

"Other issues include a telephone interview of the juvenile needing to be review by the boy's appointed psychiatrists, one of whom is in an intensive care unit recovering from an illness and the other being unavailable because of a commitment to another trial."

The judge ruled against the continuance:

" The judge said Whiting did not comply with Rule 15 of Juvenile Court Procedures and therefore the motion will be discussed at Thursday's hearing, set for 9:30 a.m.
According to the court, Rule 15 stipulates that any motion has to be provided to all parties, including the probation officer assigned to the case. The probation officer reportedly did not receive a copy. Also, the court said the victims have to be consulted in any motion to continue, and Whiting's motion did not mention the victims."


http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20380640&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6

Also, from this same story,
" Lastly, Whiting said the State and various agencies involved with the juvenile are still trying to find funding sources to implement the psychiatrists' treatment recommendations."

"

 

[Openmind]

Some people are really following this case???

Yes, I am.

LOL -- I tried to simply say yes and it wouldn't let me.

 

[Linda7NJ]

First question - why is this story in the Seattle Times?

Second question - why is the state of Arizona so tragically ill-equipped to deal with this case - from the get-go?

Third question - why would anyone give any credence to what Whiting has to say about this, if it is true? Self-serving a little?

If there is any truth to this report, then shame on the state of Arizona for failing, quite miserably, to follow the rulings of the court. How friggin difficult is it to perform a psychological evaluation on a child and determine the best course of action?

Does anyone know how Tiffany is doing? I hope she is healing from her accident.

The evaluations were done. The boy needs an intensive residential treatment facility. RTC's just aren't set up for a 9 year old murderer imo ...and they're incredibly expensive. What is happening in AZ, could happen anywhere. Money is tight everywhere and every agency is busy pointing their fingers at each other because no one wants to foot the bill.