GUILTY IA - Vicky Hall, 47, & Sheila Myers, 61, slain in c-store robberies, 15 Nov 2010

[sherbetjello]

I've watched this case, and while I don't want to make excuses for this teenager, I wonder if he has ever had an evaluation to see if he has aspergers syndrome or "spectrum disorder"? Whatever they call it now.

 

[JoeFromLB]

I've watched this case, and while I don't want to make excuses for this teenager, I wonder if he has ever had an evaluation to see if he has aspergers syndrome or "spectrum disorder"? Whatever they call it now.

Interesting.
Here's some background on him. A very disturbed individual from early childhood, it seems.

http://www.invisiblechildren.org/2011/06/23/sometimes-people-get-shot/

EXCERPT:
The slayings marked the culmination of years of attempts to get help for their son, Kathleen Swanson testified — psychiatric care, commitment, even time in a juvenile facility.

He’d been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and more. Incident after incident, he bounced between juvenile facilities and temporary inpatient psychiatric care. He was kicked out of the St. Cloud Children’s Home before his evaluation was complete, she testified.

 

[JoeFromLB]

Family says teen killer “doesn’t have a heart and soul”

http://www.radioiowa.com/2011/07/07/family-says-teen-killer-doesnt-have-a-heart-and-soul/

 

[Fairy1]

I just can't help but think his own parents must be so relieved. This kid has no soul and they were probably at their wits end trying to handle him. If he was failed by "the system," so be it. Some people cannot be fixed.

He will never be able to hurt another innocent person again.

 

[JoeFromLB]

There are two updates to this case. While in prison, he attempted to kill another inmate. He was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in addition to life without parole.

Second update: The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that automatic life without parole for juveniles (when the crime was committed) was unconstitutional, but complicated the matter in two more recent rulings. It's not clear when, or if, Swanson will have a re-sentencing hearing.