I don't know if there is a study on it, but there is a legend, commonly attributed to the Cherokee or other Native American peoples: The Two Wolves.
It is presented as an elder speaking with a youngster, passing along wisdom. The elder describes a battle going on between two wolves inside himself - "one is evil, full of anger, sorrow, regret, greed, and pride. The other is good, full of joy, peace, love, humility, kindness, and faith."
The elder tells the youngster that the same battle is going on within the youngster, as it is within every person.
The youngster asks, "which wolf will win?"
And the elder replies, "the one you feed."
During those twilight and early morning hours when most slept and their bodies rested and repaired what was tired or worn, BK was busy in his hiddenness and aloneness feeding the potential for evil within himself. Indulging anger and sorrow, feeding pride and feeling power. Forging envy into scorn. And unfortunately, the area of study he chose (one in which so many people he encountered were there because they devoted their lives in the service of the good), he used to inform, sustain, and grow that potential for evil into capacity for action.
This legend is a solid one.
Sometimes, I think it can probably be said, 'bad' is what's left over when 'good' is removed. You get to base values. Self. Survival. But I don't think that applies here, as BK took concrete steps to create evil.
Practicing his hoodie look
Searching the internet for sick adult content
Scrubbing his devices
Hiding his purchases (not well, but that didn't stop him)
Circling 1122 King Road
Surveilling 1122 King Road
Befriending Murphy or drawing him out (moo)
Breaking the slider (moo)
Breaking and entering
Unlike many criminals, BK was surrounded by resources. He had every opportunity -- and then some -- to feed the good beast.
He had access to mental health providers.
He has a supportive family.
He had access to role models.
He was given gutter bumpers in the form of performance reviews, a Q & A session, improvement plans.
He overcame a heroin addiction.
He lost 100 pounds.
He had tremendous willpower.
He could follow a regimen.
He was given glowing recommendations.
He had the capacity and means to study -- climbing the academic wall.
He could box, run, weight train -- he had other outlets.
He was physically fit.
He had interests.
He could drive.
He lived alone.
He achieved free room, board and a salary --
Functioned as an adult.
Every encounter he had, the ones where he left the audience (whether of one or of more) uncomfortable was an opportunity not to be creepy.
He could have recognized that everybody can be smart, in their own ways and in what they know. It's not possible to be the smartest person in every room. Abd the glaring difference between those who declare they're the smartest people in a room and the people who are the smartest? The smartest ones would never say that. They recognize there is always more to learn, and some of the best teachers know less but can teach much.
BK chose to restrict his diet, deliberately rejecting every handout toward the good and purposefully catering to evil.
Despite all AT's nasal intonation about his theoretical autism diagnosis and judicial opportunity to declare autism as a protected class (without producing an actual, supported diagnosis), BK clearly knew right from wrong. He
picked wrong. Actively shunned direction and redirection and delighted in what he was planning, as he planned and then executed it, and in the afterglow. Thumbs up. If there was a cigarette to smoke, he would have smoked it.
He. Chose. Evil.
Because he wanted to. Because he wanted not to stop himself.
He "respectfully declined" to make a statement prior to sentencing, but in his head, I'll bet he had/has plenty to say. You could see it in his microexpressions particularly when KG's sister was
punching him in the face with words. Nothing flowery about them. Just the cold, hard truth of his cowardice.
I think he wanted to argue against her, and I think he'd like to boast of his crimes.
... which reveals just how disordered he is.
Counter-humanity.
No shame. No honor. No courage. No decency. No empathy. No insight. No regulation. No remorse.
Beast with a skin suit. (Credit
@girlhasnoname for this perfect descriptor, borrowing from another thread.)
JMO
