I happen to live in the same neighborhood where this murder took place. Mr. Markus Kaarma, the killer has many physiological problems, some of which have been highlighted during the trial. We moved into the neighborhood 13 years ago and right away it was brought to our attention that kids, "Garage Hop." Over the years we were well aware kids would go from garage to garage and help themselves to whatever alcohol was available in unlocked garages. Never did we notice or hear any homeowners upset if any alcohol was missing. I always found this acceptance by the other homeowners as odd, to say the least. We never have left any alcohol or valuables in our garage and we have never had a problem. But them we actually keep our garage doors locked and the garage doors down, unless our kids are outside playing or me or my husband is working on a project in the garage. I refinish antique furniture and I have never experienced a problem nor do I notice car suspicious car loads of teenagers perusing the neighborhood (more on that in a minute.)
Two young men that testified in court on Thursday, both boys have admitted to and have been found guilty of stealing booze, cannabis, a bong and an IPhone, on during two other "break-ins" at the Kaarma garage. One of these young men attended elementary, middle school and was attending high school with my son. This young man clearly knew where our home was located and never targeted us or our home. Also, the two boys that were arrested and convicted of the break-ins did not live in the neighborhood but actually lived across town. If you drive up the street where the Kaarma home is located (their house is at the bottom of a cul-de-sac, you will notice every house if not every other house has a basketball hoop in the driveway. This neighborhood is full of kids of all ages. Kaama's partner, who also testified this week (she turned out to be a laughing stock of the trial thus far) claimed she chased random cars full of teenagers through the subdivision out on to the main road (which is extremely busy, narrow, winding and full of blind spots; leading directly out of a treacherous mountain road.) After cutting off one car load of kids, she got out of her car and approached the kids yelling and ranting and raving that the kids were up to "no good" and were stealing from her house. All of the kids lived in the neighborhood and my son was one of passengers in the car, which the kids were on their way to track practice. Mr Kaarma's partner called the kids a dirty name, she claims she only called the kids "wieners" and proceeded to drive away in her car (with her baby strapped into a car seat) at a high rate of speed, while her car was veering into on-coming traffic.
In my opinion, Kaarma and his partner were targeted by many kids in and outside of the neighborhood. Both Kaarma and his baby mommy acted foolish on many, many occasions. Yesterday in testimony the man that was hired by contract to provide exterminator services for the Kaarma home, testified Kaarma pulled a loaded gun on him when he showed up and was spraying the property. Kaarma showed up outside, naked, and cocked his gun at the service provider. Kaarma never apologized when the man explained who he was and why he was there. Kaarma told him he was "lucky" he didn't shoot him.
There is much more to this story and it is very sad. We, who live in the neighborhood, knew stories would come to light of the harassment Kaarma and his partner had pulled on many people living in our great community. They had only lived in our little oasis for less than a year before Diren Dede was killed. I will also add the host family to Diren and the other exchange student, (who was the boy with Diren when he was killed,) are lovely, wonderful people who were clearly devastated by what happened to their exchange student son(s) and to the place they called home.
