GUILTY FL - Calyx, 16, & Beau Schenecker, 13, shot to death, Tampa, 27 Jan 2011 #1

[Litig8r]

Did her husband have the ability to tell his superiors that he couldn't take the assignment to Qatar because he was concerned about his wife? I know he is high ranking but I'm not sure how this type of situation would be handled in the army.

Dh and I were discussing this ourselves. Although he may not have had the ability to alter his assignment, I can't help but wonder if he considered making other arrangements for the kids. Could JPS's mother have come into town to help? I commented to my husband that if I were to ever develop a substance abuse or some other problem that he'd better make sure his mother AND my mother get here!! Lord willin' and the creek don't rise that it would ever happen, but I would hope he's in-tune enough to me and vice-versa to recognize when intervention or assistance is needed. There have been "those kind" of days where I've looked at him and said, "I need a break, and I need it right now". I must have a certain look in my eye or something because he knows immediately and doesn't question, he just takes over. There was one time that I needed an immediate break (I'm human!) and he wasn't available. I called my mother (who is not local) and said, "Come Now!", and she did. I would never dream of harming a hair on my childrens' precious little heads, but I know that it's important to recognize when a human limit is reached, and to act accordingly.

 

[Searchfortruth]

Did her husband have the ability to tell his superiors that he couldn't take the assignment to Qatar because he was concerned about his wife? I know he is high ranking but I'm not sure how this type of situation would be handled in the army.

I think it depends on several things, the unit, the soldier and his rank (probably), and the commander. There might be some commanders that would honor the soldiers wish to stay back and help his wife and children, but I don't know how many. Also, if it was a substance abuse problem, the soldier may not have felt comfortable raising that issue to anyone over him. Even mental illness is not accepted well in many Army units.

The higher the rank, the more pressure is felt to meet your commitments...it's a big deal to stay behind, in my experience. My husband retired from the Army after 22 years, so I have seen this a time or two (soldiers needing to stay behind for their family).

Also, there is (for most soldiers) an issue with discussing family problems with their supervisors. An "everything's taken care of" mentality exists because anything else, is usually not well tolerated. A "good" soldier makes sure his family is taken care of so that he can attend to whatever mission is assigned.

 

[Litig8r]

Link to search warrant return:

http://www.baynews9.com/static/articles/images/documents/Schenecker-Search-Warrant-Return-0201.pdf

 

[mdimaggio]

I am wondering if she possibly attempted suicide by taking an overdose of medication?

This is so horrible, my heart has been in so much pain for these children.

 

[mdimaggio]

Dh and I were discussing this ourselves. Although he may not have had the ability to alter his assignment, I can't help but wonder if he considered making other arrangements for the kids. Could JPS's mother have come into town to help? I commented to my husband that if I were to ever develop a substance abuse or some other problem that he'd better make sure his mother AND my mother get here!! Lord willin' and the creek don't rise that it would ever happen, but I would hope he's in-tune enough to me and vice-versa to recognize when intervention or assistance is needed. There have been "those kind" of days where I've looked at him and said, "I need a break, and I need it right now". I must have a certain look in my eye or something because he knows immediately and doesn't question, he just takes over. There was one time that I needed an immediate break (I'm human!) and he wasn't available. I called my mother (who is not local) and said, "Come Now!", and she did. I would never dream of harming a hair on my childrens' precious little heads, but I know that it's important to recognize when a human limit is reached, and to act accordingly.

I appreciate your posts, thank you. So much can be learned from this severe tragedy. It is MHO that the chemical substance and/or alcohol use were the catalyst. If only help could have reached this family. The father probably could not even imagine that JPS would be capable of such an act. How could he? As with many situations in families, sometimes the obvious is overlooked for the sake of stability. IDK ?

 

[Vresia]

How much time do I have to compose a message before the time for posting expires? I just "lost" a message that had taken me a while to compose before attempting to post.

I am so sorry that you lost a post. This happened to me a few times before I realized that you can back page to the draft of your post after your login has timed out. You just go back to that page, copy the post, login again and then paste the post.

Does that make sense ?

 

[Vresia]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/us-tampa-murders-idUSTRE71079Y20110201
Public Information Officer Laura McElroy...said Schenecker left a note written several days before the shootings.

She put her awful plans on paper several days before she shot them ?! She was interacting with her kids for several days knowing that she was going to end their lives. What things were like in that house one the Col. had left for Qatar ?

 

[Litig8r]

I appreciate your posts, thank you. So much can be learned from this severe tragedy. It is MHO that the chemical substance and/or alcohol use were the catalyst. If only help could have reached this family. The father probably could not even imagine that JPS would be capable of such an act. How could he? As with many situations in families, sometimes the obvious is overlooked for the sake of stability. IDK ?

You're welcome. I just can't wrap my brain around this tragedy, and I'm sure it helps all of us to be able to share our thoughts about it. I will share that I am local, I live within minutes of the family's home. Although I don't know the family, I do know people that do; families whose kids were classmates, teammates and friends with Calyx and Beau. Our community is broken over this.

I very much agree with what you've said. I'm not sure if we know where the dad is from? I do know there is a certain midwest (where JPS was raised) mentality (I can say this because my family is from there!) of "Let's sweep it under the rug, let's present the perfect picture. We don't have problems, we can't have problems, no one could ever suspect we have problems", and I wouldn't be surprised to know that this mentality is very much present in the military also. That mentality was likely very prevalent in their world. I suspect that may have played a roll here, and in the decline of JPS's mental state.

I guess something we can learn so far is that it is OK to need help. Any stigma that may be associated with that doesn't even come close to the possible consequences of not getting help.

 

[Vresia]

Can alcohol withdrawal or drug withdrawal mimic dyskinesias ?

I do not mean withdrawal from antipsychotic meds; I am wondering about withdrawal from drugs of abuse. In a couple of the articles mentioning the Al-Anon, I think the father was alleged to have said his wife had drug and alcohol issues.

I have read that prolonged meth use can lead to tardive dykinesia. Does it show up at withdrawal & how likely is it that JPS was a longterm meth user ? Meth is not high on my list of possible explanations (for the time being anyway).

 

[fhc]

Didn't Calyx just start at the prestigious King H.S. in September? I have a hunch it was the transfer that caused the need for carpooling, which gave mother and daughter more time to be together than they were used to -- more time to get on each other's nerves! Also, perhaps Julia had some (at the time) unexpressed jealousy or resentment of her daughter having the opportunity to attend such a prestigious school. After all, Julia herself was a high achiever without such benefits.

That International Baccalaureate program is very interesting; I live in California and have three children who attended -- and did well in -- highly regarded public high schools here and I had never heard of the IB program until this tragic situation occurred.

The transfer to KHS may have been because her father attended/graduated from an exclusive private school in our area that has the same IB program. iirc

oops, i was wrong, it is only a college prep school.

 

[mdimaggio]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/us-tampa-murders-idUSTRE71079Y20110201
Public Information Officer Laura McElroy...said Schenecker left a note written several days before the shootings.

She put her awful plans on paper several days before she shot them ?! She was interacting with her kids for several days knowing that she was going to end their lives. What things were like in that house one the Col. had left for Qatar ?

I agree and wonder the same. The Col. must've been denying the truth to himself in a effort carry on with life, hoping and praying things would somehow work themselves out. He must be feeling horrible even though he should not.
Also, Calyx as most teens, (girls especially, IMHO) question and challenge their Mothers constantly. I can only imagine how much more severe it was for her since it appeared that JPS was behaving out of character. From Calyx's backtalk i.e. "You disgust me" and "you are not my parent" she was crying-out desperately, she wanted her old mom back. She lost all respect for her.

 

[southcitymom]

Some new information regarding the scene when officers arrived here:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/fe...covery-of-slain-tampa-palms-te/news-breaking/

It says JPS was unconscious when officers arrived, Calyx had been moved to the bed, both kids had been covered with blankets, bullets, casings and a gun instruction manual were found in the master bedroom and JPS had fired a warning shot through the windshield of the SUV.

All interesting...

The thought of the warning shot through the window of the SUV before she killed Beau is heartbreaking. I had hoped that neither child "saw it coming," but seeing or hearing your mom shoot out the window of the family SUV while you're in it has to be terrifying....and leave you in fear for your life.

My continued prayers for this family.

 

[Litig8r]

The transfer to KHS may have been because her father attended/graduated from an exclusive private school in our area that has the same IB program. iirc

King (KHS) is very sought after in our area. I'd say at least 90% of parents in the area are aware of it. It's very competitive, and "high-achieving" families are generally most interested in King. Although I hate to say it, having your kids attend King is somewhat of a status symbol in the area. Families begin planning for acceptance (based on meeting certain middle school criteria) into King as soon as elementary school. Enrolling in King is not a given, one can't just choose to go there. There is a vigorous application process, and only the best of the best get in.

 

[mdimaggio]

You're welcome. I just can't wrap my brain around this tragedy, and I'm sure it helps all of us to be able to share our thoughts about it. I will share that I am local, I live within minutes of the family's home. Although I don't know the family, I do know people that do; families whose kids were classmates, teammates and friends with Calyx and Beau. Our community is broken over this.

I very much agree with what you've said. I'm not sure if we know where the dad is from? I do know there is a certain midwest (where JPS was raised) mentality (I can say this because my family is from there!) of "Let's sweep it under the rug, let's present the perfect picture. We don't have problems, we can't have problems, no one could ever suspect we have problems", and I wouldn't be surprised to know that this mentality is very much present in the military also. That mentality was likely very prevalent in their world. I suspect that may have played a roll here, and in the decline of JPS's mental state.

I guess something we can learn so far is that it is OK to need help. Any stigma that may be associated with that doesn't even come close to the possible consequences of not getting help.

I too am local and share the same feelings. Not knowing the family, but knowing others that do, we are all suffering from this tragedy. Unfortunately, Calyx and Beau, had to lose their lives, in such a horrible, unimaginable way, in order for others not to, IMHO. Just searching......... Thanks again for your input, it has made in difference for me.

 

[mdimaggio]

yes, that shot through the windshield hopefully occurred after and not prior to Beau's death. Please God, I hope so. It is too painful to think he might have seen it coming.

 

[Vresia]

From Calyx's backtalk i.e. "You disgust me" and "you are not my parent" she was crying-out desperately, she wanted her old mom back. She lost all respect for her.

I completely agree with you on Calyx's crying-out. She may not have been able to articulate everything that she sensed was off with her mother but she knew something was off.

I think the family was facing the trouble with JPS. JPS was in therapy, the family was in therapy, the father & kids went to Al-Anon. Perhaps with time, they may have done an intervention. Who could have imagined the situation was so lethal and that time was going to run out for them ?

 

[Litig8r]

Has anyone else read the search warrant return? The list of items seized from the scene is somewhat chilling, I think. Many of them stand out, in particular several bottles of medication. Also, number 17? Does that say "DNR" on a sticky note in the stairwell? Another one in particular that I'm wondering about is right after number 23 (there's no number) which reads, "retirement papers". Wonder what that's about?

Warrant can be found here:

http://www.baynews9.com/static/articles/images/documents/Schenecker-Search-Warrant-Return-0201.pdf

 

[mdimaggio]

I completely agree with you on Calyx's crying-out. She may not have been able to articulate everything that she sensed was off with her mother but she knew something was off.

I think the family was facing the trouble with JPS. JPS was in therapy, the family was in therapy, the father & kids went to Al-Anon. Perhaps with time, they may have done an intervention. Who could have imagined the situation was so lethal and that time was going to run out for them ?

Once again, in my desperate effort to make so sense of this, I am reminded, "we never know what is going on behind closed doors." It upset me to read that Calyx's track coach said that JPS seemed like a normal mom, even though she was, at times, forgetful. As a mother of more than one child, who tries so hard to meet each and everyone of the needs of my children, whom, I adore, consider coaches comment as an insult and a judgement. Perhaps, that gives us some insight as to why JPS did not get the help she so desperately need to save the lives of her children.

 

[Track292008]

Has anyone else read the search warrant return? The list of items seized from the scene is somewhat chilling, I think. Many of them stand out, in particular several bottles of medication. Also, number 17? Does that say "DNR" on a sticky note in the stairwell? Another one in particular that I'm wondering about is right after number 23 (there's no number) which reads, "retirement papers". Wonder what that's about?

Warrant can be found here:

http://www.baynews9.com/static/articles/images/documents/Schenecker-Search-Warrant-Return-0201.pdf

I was also struck by the DNR ("Do Not Resuscitate") sign and wonder if Julia "planned" to place it above her own body at the time she "planned" to commit suicide....really sick. I also noticed "retirement papers" and think perhaps the couple had been discussing Parker's retirement from the Army, considering it as a way out of the awful family situation they were experiencing.

 

[alwaysonmymind]

Has anyone else read the search warrant return? The list of items seized from the scene is somewhat chilling, I think. Many of them stand out, in particular several bottles of medication. Also, number 17? Does that say "DNR" on a sticky note in the stairwell? Another one in particular that I'm wondering about is right after number 23 (there's no number) which reads, "retirement papers". Wonder what that's about?

Warrant can be found here:

http://www.baynews9.com/static/articles/images/documents/Schenecker-Search-Warrant-Return-0201.pdf

Do Not Resuscitate. DNR

I wonder if there was ever a discussion of the husband retiring? perhaps the retirement papers were left out for that reason. I have a feeling the notes will provide more insight. moo