Ok, MR is guilty ... Lock him up now let's move on ...
How do we protect our children, when we ignore the facts that this case may not of been sexually motivated. TLM was in our child welfare system and still she only had a grade eight education. How does that happen? She was sentences for violent crimes and wrote about revenge regarding these crimes and still she was let out early on probation. How does that happen? She missed her appointment with a mental health worker and an arrest warrant was issued, yet she wasn't arrested until after VS was killed. How does that happen? All the signs were there and ignored. Until our systems wakes up to preventive education then more of our children will be lost. For me turning our backs on people like TLM is why VS is lost to us today. ... I am afraid that if this case gets recorded as a sexually motivated crime the real issues will be hidden away ...
And more TLM will be created ...
BBM - I absolutely agree with the statement bolded above, and I hope that this case does bring us, as a society, to see some of what you term 'the real issues'. But, IMO, that is just one side of the coin - because I do not think this case is entirely about the wreck of a human being that is TLM. I think the collaboration of TLM, with all her issues, and MR, with his distinct and separate issues, conjured up 'the perfect storm' of evil. So, in my mind, I cannot dismiss that the crime was sexually motivated - I think that was his motivation. I believe MR was a master manipulator, and that TLM would have done anything that she thought would impress or please him. Because she lacks a conscience and cares about just a very few people - her mom, for one... maybe her godmother... and for a brief time, MR... because she really believed he cared about her, and for a neglected, abused, discarded child like TLM, just imagine how powerful a currency that 'little bit of love' is.
I think he, OTOH, recognized in her a willingness to go to any lengths at all, without qualms, to satisfy him. I believe her when she testified that he goaded her by saying she was all talk... and that played right into her second most valued currency... protecting her 'tough girl' status. And I think that he possibly never really thought she'd do it... I think it could have been one of those things that got started from a flippant comment, a dare... and that once the ball was rolling, neither of them could/would back down. And that once Tori was in the car, it was too late and they 'couldn't keep her and they couldn't take her home'... and so he thought he may as well indulge his sick fantasy first, which led him to say 'you know I'm going to rape (or some other word) her, right?'
Doesn't make much difference to me if TLM went in the school seeking Tori because she knew her or knew of her, or if she was outside and picked Tori because she was walking alone... I believe TLM went to the school to get a girl, on a 'dare' from MR and that they both are entirely responsible in Tori's death, regardless of who held the hammer.
All just MOO.