GUILTY WA - Bethany Storro charged in acid attack hoax, Vancouver, 2010

[laytonian]

In your opinion, is this a hate-crime only,

Absolutely not. I'm saying that, along with whatever else she's charged with, she should be charged with a hate crime.

As should anyone who creates such a hoax, and falsely accuses a person of another race.

...with no possibility that she has a serious mental illness?

I can't diagnose her.

Right now, I like the opinion of Klein-Von Reiche, who says she could be a narcissist (which is a personality disorder of its own).

 

[laytonian]

This is so bizarre. I saw this woman all over the news and felt bad for her. Just read in the paper that it was a hoax. Wow. The lengths some people will go to prove a point or for attention. Yeah, she's sick all right. She's as sick as many fanatics are. The theories about Munchausen's, narcissism, etc., are interesting and may play a part but I have a feeling she's mostly just fanatic about her religion and political beliefs and felt this was the way to show the world. Just a theory. But what a thing.

People say there's no racism in America anymore. After all, we have a Black president, right? Nonsense. The fact that criminals and others notoriously blame Black people for crimes that did not happen or were done by themselves, and the fact that the public so readily accepts that the truth of the allegations and then all these people come out of the woodwork and start railing about Blacks and how the perp should be "hung in the town square", etc., proves that racism is still alive and well. So sad.

I guess I should feel sorry for someone so disturbed that they can actually disfigure themselves but it's hard for me to do so in this case because I think she hurt a whole population of people while she did so.
Nevertheless, there must be something very wrong with a person like this and sincere kudos to those posters who can continue to feel for her. That's compassionate.

Can you link me to the sketch? I can't find it.

I guess they had to investigate. That doesn't necessarily mean they believed it but they must start with the idea that what is alleged, may have actually happened and go from there, I think. But I really do believe that the public seems to more easily accept a Black person committing a crime, without question, than a white person. That's why many of the people on death row who were later found innocent, are Black. It is truly shameful.

I totally agree with you.

 

[Snoopster]

<snip>

ANOTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY on KENS-5:
And there's another theory. Paradoxically, Bethany Storro could be a big narcissist.

"We shouldn't minimize the fact that she got enormous notoriety from this," says Klein-Von Reiche, and any sort of attention, positive or negative, is gold for an extreme narcissist.

"At its roots, narcissism is voracious."

Bethany Storro

Laura Silsby

For some reason, this case reminded me of the Laura Silsby case....trying to look like heroes, to make themselves feel better, and using the 'God cover' to hide behind. Narcissism? You bet. Messiah Complex? Perhaps.

Both of these women are cons.

 

[laytonian]

For some reason, this case reminded me of the Laura Silsby case....trying to look like heroes, to make themselves feel better, and using the 'God cover' to hide behind. Narcissism? You bet. Messiah Complex? Perhaps.

Both of these women are cons.

Oh, wow. You're right ... and there's a common denominator: Idaho evangelicism. Serve Christ and learn to handle a gun all at the same time.

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-cou...hemselves_in_acid_experts_try_to_explain.html

Why would Bethany Storro douse herself in acid? Experts try to explain


"....Friday, a leading researcher in the field of self-harm discounted theories that Bethany Storro, 28, was crying for attention, trying to manipulate others or attempting suicide.

"The biggest reason people do this," said Kim L. Gratz, "is because it makes them feel better in the moment ... It can really distract people from all the emotional pain that they're feeling."

much more at link--a very detailed article

 

[jjenny]

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-cou...hemselves_in_acid_experts_try_to_explain.html

Why would Bethany Storro douse herself in acid? Experts try to explain


"....Friday, a leading researcher in the field of self-harm discounted theories that Bethany Storro, 28, was crying for attention, trying to manipulate others or attempting suicide.

"The biggest reason people do this," said Kim L. Gratz, "is because it makes them feel better in the moment ... It can really distract people from all the emotional pain that they're feeling."

much more at link--a very detailed article

According to this article, people who harm themselves typically try to hide it. While this lady said somebody else did it, gave a press-conference, and claimed Jesus was responsible for this miracle. So I sincerely doubt her motivation would be similar to that of a typical self-mutilator.

 

[oh_gal]

Absolutely not. I'm saying that, along with whatever else she's charged with, she should be charged with a hate crime.

As should anyone who creates such a hoax, and falsely accuses a person of another race.



I can't diagnose her.

Right now, I like the opinion of Klein-Von Reiche, who says she could be a narcissist (which is a personality disorder of its own).

Thanks for explaining your stance on this...I was a little confused, but you explain things well!

 

[Melanie]

This case makes me so sad. WHY would she do this to herself, and why blame it on a black woman, when she herself is white. I just find that totally disgusting. If you want to F yourself up, go ahead. But don't blame it on a black woman - we have enough problems in this world. I definitely hope she's charged with a hate crime, and has to pay back all the money LE has spent trying to look for this fictitous person.

And I wonder who's paying all her medical bills? Is this an attempted suicide? And her poor co-workers at the grocery store who collected money for her. I hope they get it all back!

MOO

Mel

 

[Melanie]

I remember watching her on the news, forgiving her *attacker* and thinking what a strong person she was, and feeling guilt that i probably wouldn't be able to forgive someone so quickly. Now I realize she isn't strong at all, just totally delusional and a racist.

That's what I thought when I watched the presser. D*M she was pretty forgiving very quickly. I couldn't have done that - nor the majority of people - so soon after such an attack. And she was saying miracle this and miracle that. She bought those glasses to protect her eyes -- a totally premeditated act on her part. Just how could she sit there at a presser and lie like that. She's gotta be kookoo for coco puffs! That's my diagnosis anyway!

IMHO

Mel

 

[Melanie]

Thanks.

If she's not willing to speak up and apologize, I wish her family would. Her brother, who made some pretty vicious comments aimed at the (fake) attacker), has merely shut down his Facebook page.

"I am so disgusted with society right now!" Storro’s brother, [deleted], said on his Facebook page, The Columbian reported.

"Yesterday my little sister got some form of acid thrown into her face while walking through downtown Vancouver, WA. She is currently in the hospital with severe burns and could face permanent damage. This incident was totally unprovoked and malicious in nature. If you believe in prayer, now is the time to ask for a full recovery and that the assailant be brought to justice!"
​

I just wish I could get Hinky Meter to work this well on the Steven Koecher case. But maybe my original suspicion (no crime, suicide) is correct ... and I'm making it too hard.

Kudos to you, cuz my hinky meter didn't even move (and I thought I was good at that stuff).

Can you tune in to Kyron Horman too

You're the best!

Mel

 

[Garland]

Shame on police? Seriously? For what? Do you want them automatically disbelieve someone who claims to be a victim of some vicious attack? They were investigating, which is what they are supposed to do when someone makes a claim. Do you expect people to only contact police if they have clear cut evidence, and police declining to investigate unless the person provides clear cut evidence right from the start?

I know that they're supposed to investigate but often times, they'll just believe every word of what someone tells them about the situation, & they'll often believe Caucasians over African Americans without any clear cut evidence or some sort.

That's why there are many innocent African American males sitting inside prisons for something that they never did (not to mention only being let out later when they discover through DNA, etc., that they really didn't do the crime). And it's sickening. I sometimes don't think that there's fairness everywhere. I expect for them to look & provide all of the evidence (DNA tests, etc.) BEFORE they start convicting them of a certain crime. That's how you do proper justice.

I hope that Bethany gets all the help she needs, because she will certainly need it in which her community will be demonizing her at every turn whenever they see her, especially African American women in which she was targeting against. It's going to be miserable for her.

 

[jjenny]

I know that they're supposed to investigate but often times, they'll just believe every word of what someone tells them about the situation, & they'll often believe Caucasians over African Americans without any clear cut evidence or some sort.

That's why there are many innocent African American males sitting inside prisons for something that they never did (not to mention only being let out later when they discover through DNA, etc., that they really didn't do the crime). And it's sickening. I sometimes don't think that there's fairness everywhere. I expect for them to look & provide all of the evidence (DNA tests, etc.) BEFORE they start convicting them of a certain crime. That's how you do proper justice.

I hope that Bethany gets all the help she needs, because she will certainly need it in which her community will be demonizing her at every turn whenever they see her, especially African American women in which she was targeting against. It's going to be miserable for her.

I fail to see as to where police believed every word this woman told them. It's been a very short time and police already determined this was a hoax, and no one has been arrested let alone convicted of anything. I certainly would not want police starting to say from the start they have doubts about a story someone tells them, because that can further victimize individuals who are telling the truth.

 

[laytonian]

I know that they're supposed to investigate but often times, they'll just believe every word of what someone tells them about the situation, & they'll often believe Caucasians over African Americans without any clear cut evidence or some sort.

That's not the case here.
Every AA woman "suspected" by the public, WAS believed. Nobody was arrested due to her lies.

I'd like to think that this highly-publicized stunt, aimed at the AA community, might make some people think about WHY they believed her.

 

[laytonian]

Kudos to you, cuz my hinky meter didn't even move (and I thought I was good at that stuff).

Can you tune in to Kyron Horman too

You're the best!

Mel

I can't control the hinky meter :banghead:

 

[laytonian]

That's what I thought when I watched the presser. D*M she was pretty forgiving very quickly. I couldn't have done that - nor the majority of people - so soon after such an attack. And she was saying miracle this and miracle that. She bought those glasses to protect her eyes -- a totally premeditated act on her part. Just how could she sit there at a presser and lie like that. She's gotta be kookoo for coco puffs! That's my diagnosis anyway!

IMHO

Mel

Or an evil, racist narcissist.

Unless someone comes forward saying she has longstanding mental issues (and her parents' statements seem to deny that), I truly believe that this was a premeditated act, planned in advance.

When her parents held their PRESS CONFERENCE yesterday, they made an interesting statement (almost Freudian):

"As any good parent would, we stood by our daughter when she told us these different scenarios. We stood by her. We believed her. Any good parent would do that, so that's the course we took," Joe Neuwelt said.​

BBM "these different scenarios"?

Maybe it's just me, but I read this as: "She told us lots of different stories but since we always believe anything she says, we just kept on believing she was telling the truth. Any good parent automatically believes anything their child tells them."

That's not the way it worked in our home; our daughter never did anything awful, but even in just little cases like arguments with friends, IF the story changed, we reminded her that she'd changed her story....and asked her to tell us the truth.

I'm wondering this: Since Bethany was ill as a child and grew up "different" (deaf), did she learn early on that she could get attention and pampering due to being "special" and being a "victim"? Add in the accusation against a segment of society that is easy to accuse in some communities , and she had a perfect scheme. Munchaeusen's? OR....just plain narcissistic "pretty girl" behavior?

ALSO in that article:
The city is looking into whether they should sue Storro to reclaim the expenses of the investigation.

 

[laytonian]

This case makes me so sad. WHY would she do this to herself, and why blame it on a black woman, when she herself is white. I just find that totally disgusting. If you want to F yourself up, go ahead. But don't blame it on a black woman - we have enough problems in this world. I definitely hope she's charged with a hate crime, and has to pay back all the money LE has spent trying to look for this fictitous person.

And I wonder who's paying all her medical bills? Is this an attempted suicide? And her poor co-workers at the grocery store who collected money for her. I hope they get it all back!

MOO

Mel

I'm glad you mentioned the money. That reminds me of something I read: if Bethany Storro actually withdrew/used/touched any of the money, she can be charged with fraud.

That's why the banks are ALL saying that they're trying to identify who donated, and give the money back.

Also, do the match on the fitness studio, who ran the "fundraiser" (80 attendees at $20 each) and therefore collected $1600. They kept half.
Even their half could be considered ill-gotten gains.

Follow the money trail and remember what Bethany said: "From the very first, I just wanted to inspire people...."

 

[laytonian]

Updating the list to add another "blame someone of another race" criminals:

Diane Downs, who claimed that a black man flagged her down, while she and her children were driving down an isolated, country road.

HOAXER Tawana Brawley, who claimed white men raped her, and covered her with excrement.

Charles Stuart, who murdered his wife and blamed it on a black man. Hundreds of black men were hauled in, until police figured out the lie.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Smith"]Susan Smith[/ame], who killed two sons, and blamed it on a black man. I saw through her story as soon as I saw her "Amos N' Andy" perp (who'd have faced her, yet the perp was shown in profile).

HOAXER Ashley Todd, the McCain volunteer who claimed a "dark-skinned man" (Obama supporter) carved the letter "B" on her cheek.

HOAXER Bonnie Sweeten, claimed that "black men kidnapped us and shoved us into the trunk of this car" and took her daughter to Florida.

HOAXER Bethany Storro, who claimed that a black woman threw acid in her face on a downtown Vancouver, Washington Street.

 

[DairyGirl]

Updating the list to add another "blame someone of another race" criminals:

Diane Downs, who claimed that a black man flagged her down, while she and her children were driving down an isolated, country road.

HOAXER Tawana Brawley, who claimed white men raped her, and covered her with excrement.

Charles Stuart, who murdered his wife and blamed it on a black man. Hundreds of black men were hauled in, until police figured out the lie.

Susan Smith, who killed two sons, and blamed it on a black man. I saw through her story as soon as I saw her "Amos N' Andy" perp (who'd have faced her, yet the perp was shown in profile).

HOAXER Ashley Todd, the McCain volunteer who claimed a "dark-skinned man" (Obama supporter) carved the letter "B" on her cheek.

HOAXER Bonnie Sweeten, claimed that "black men kidnapped us and shoved us into the trunk of this car" and took her daughter to Florida.

HOAXER Bethany Storro, who claimed that a black woman threw acid in her face on a downtown Vancouver, Washington Street.

Excellent list but I don't recall Diane Downs blaming a black man, just a shaggy haired stranger.

 

[Melanie]

Excellent list but I don't recall Diane Downs blaming a black man, just a shaggy haired stranger.

You're right - I can't find info if she said he was black or white?

From that warm spring night on May 19, 1983, when Downs claimed a "shaggy-haired stranger" had shot her kids, to the bizarre spectacle a year later when a very pregnant Downs appeared at her six-week trial in Eugene, to her brief escape from the Oregon State Penitentiary three years later, the entire tale has seemed like a made-for-TV murder mystery.


linky: http://www.katu.com/news/94284344.html

 

[laytonian]

You're right - I can't find info if she said he was black or white?

From that warm spring night on May 19, 1983, when Downs claimed a "shaggy-haired stranger" had shot her kids, to the bizarre spectacle a year later when a very pregnant Downs appeared at her six-week trial in Eugene, to her brief escape from the Oregon State Penitentiary three years later, the entire tale has seemed like a made-for-TV murder mystery.


linky: http://www.katu.com/news/94284344.html

I need to find my copy of Ann Rule's "Small Sacrifices", because I clearly remember reading "black man" in that book.