This case baffles me. Before I read the probable cause statement, I thought it possible that Gaeta had some sort of mental health episode or neurological issue that resulted in the rape and murder. That's because there are zero reports that he was an anti-social loner, violent, exhibited criminal behavior, was obsessed with sex or violence or violent games or whatever...the things typical of teens with "conduct disorder" (i.e. the precursor to sociopathy/psychopathy), or typical of teens who commit sexually motivated homicides.
Once I read how he was "acting", though, during the police interviews, all bets were off. But still...he does not fit the pattern of a young person with sign of being a sociopath or psychopath, from what I've read. (We really need some mental health professionals to weigh in here).
As stated above, most teens with conduct disorder show patterns of anti-social and criminal behavior. This guy apparently doesn't. He seems to have a "normal" facade. So what does that mean?
Is it possible that he is closer to Ted Bundy? Among the worst of the worst serial killers who are adept at hiding their true, evil natures? But even Bundy showed signs, it seems:
1. Bundy was raised by a scary and violent man.
Samuel Cowell [Ted's grandfather who pretended to be his father for many years] was a tyrannical bully and a bigot who hated people of all different backgrounds and who beat his wife and the family dog, and swung neighborhood cats by their tails. He apparently threw one of his daughters down a flight of stairs for oversleeping. He spoke to unseen presences. There were questions about whether he had fathered Bundy and he once, at least, flew into a violent rage when the question of Bundy' paternity was raised. "Bundy described his grandmother [who raised Bundy as his mother,] as a timid and obedient woman who periodically underwent electroconvulsive therapy for depression and feared leaving their house toward the end of her life."
2. "He showed violent tendencies as young as three years old. His maternal aunt Julia recalls lying down for a nap and waking up surrounded by knives with a smiling 3-year-old Bundy at her side."
3. Bundy reportedly mutilated animals with knives.
4. Bundy was a joiner, joining boy scouts, the Methodist church, etc. However, he later stated:
I didnt know what made people want to be friends. I didnt know what made people attractive to one another. I didnt know what underlay social interactions. He was often described as shy and introverted at this age. He was actually a loner and avoided other children.
5. He was a criminal as a child. He loved knives. He was a habitual liar. and a compulsive shoplifter. He was a pepper, peeping into the homes of women, late at night. He was arrested twice as a juvenile but the records were later expunged.
http://www.allthingscrimeblog.com/2014/05/23/ten-fatal-facts-about-ted-bundys-formative-years-2/
http://students.english.ilstu.edu/smdare/bundy/tedschildhood.html
I notice that Gaeta may share one of the traits of Bundy - being shy and introverted while maintaining a facade as a joiner. Are there others? It's true that Bundy showed signs. But those signs were seen in retrospect, years and years later, when his murders came out. Prior to that, I don;t think anyone knew the full story about him and he was able to pass as human.
Is this Gaeta's story as well? Are there other signs we are not yet aware of? Regardless, the fact that really there isn't anything that immediately comes out about this teenager, and nothing that we can really glean from his social media or friends that makes us able to say, "Aha! That's it!", is chilling.
It really makes me feel he may be much more sophisticated than at least I imagined, and much more sinister. The type, like Bundy, who uses his charm, his normal appearance and ability to manipulate to too good affect - fooling everyone.
I don't know. Hopefully we'll find out but this case really has me baffled.
