TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Meinberg was one of 13 church members at the Evanswood Church of God named on an e-mailed "hit" list from an anonymous parishioner who called himself "Holiness Prophetess." Meinberg said she now believes Yaryan was intentionally trying to upset her in order to complicate her health before a surgical procedure. Yaryan even reported the e-mail threats to police.

"He was the beneficiary on my insurance and stood to get everything in the event of my death," Meinberg told the court. "At one point he approached me and asked, 'If you die, do I get Winston?' At first I thought he was kidding -- trying to cheer me up -- but he wasn't. Winston was our lovebird."

When asked by the judge if he had anything to say, Yaryan responded calmly and wearily:

"What I did was very wrong. I'm truly sorry for creating fear, and there is no excuse for it. In May, a jury reached a verdict, and I accept that verdict."

The re-sentencing, originally scheduled for Monday, is a result of a recent Court of Appeals decision that upheld Andrew Osantowski's conviction under Michigan's 2001 terrorism law.

In the videotapes Cho Seung-Hui sent to NBC in the midst of the Virginia Tech massacre, he spoke of his children, brothers and sisters and compared himself to Jesus.

Many may shrug off such rantings as those of a deranged killer.

But not everyone.

"Cho Seung-hui, we fringed ones salute you," reads one Web site that praises the bloodshed just days after the country recoiled at the deadliest shooting spree in U.S. history.

Rowell Huesmann, a professor of psychology and communication studies at the University of Michigan, called such sentiments "disgusting."

But, he added, there's a reason for them.

"There are disaffected people who are alienated, for one reason or another, from society who wouldn't do anything physically violent," he said. "But writing these gives them a chance to be aggressive to society in a way that's fairly non-risky."

If Cho wanted notoriety as a martyr for the disenfranchised, history indicates he'll get it.

That's what happened with Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, students at Columbine High School in Colorado who shot to death 12 classmates and a teacher before turning their guns on themselves eight years ago today.

And locally, it happened with Andrew Osantowski of Clinton Township in 2004. The then-17-year-old was accused of stockpiling an arsenal to gun down classmates and blow up his school, Chippewa Valley High in Clinton Township. His plan was thwarted after he shared it in an Internet chat with a teen in Washington state, who told her father. He, in turn, called Clinton Township police.

Online, Osantowski was praised.

"I, for one, salute Mr. Osantowski," a Web site posting read at the time. Osantowski, who was convicted of threatening an act of terrorism and using a computer to threaten terrorism, was sentenced to 4 1/2 to 22 years in prison.

The appellate attorney for Andrew Osantowski said that she will ask the state Supreme Court to hear arguments on a half-dozen issues, including the constitutionality of the terrorism statute and his sentencing guideline range.

Marla McCowan, Osantowski's appellate attorney, said she also asked the Court of Appeals to reconsider its March 2006 decision to allow Osantowski's statement to be used in the case. McCowan said she is arguing that Osantowski's Miranda rights were not properly provided. She said a decision on that issue could be made by May.

It takes a lot of shit to make some one snap like Eric and Dylan did…and I dont care if all of you out there recon that it was ‘mental problems’ that made them do it. I think thats bullshit…they were just pushed to the edge and then the hate got released. I’ve been there…I’ve been tormented by my peers..I wrote a columbine list…people just make you crazy…they really do…and I guess Eric and Dylan finally decided they had to do sumthin bout our fucked up society!! and good on em…may the world learn from their death…

Comment by Sarz — Sunday Feb 27, 2005 @ 10:00 pm

First off, you peole only get the media side of view. All of you are talking about it like you know it. I happen to know who he is and yes he has some issues but you don’t know the half of it. He was pretty much crying out for attention and went about the worst way possible, due to some people encouraging him and brainwashing him. So before you stupid assholes say more shit, get the story right!

Comment by ?????? — Sunday Feb 27, 2005 @ 5:51 pm

I appreciate the reply. I’m sure that there will be more to come for me as the case against Andrew progresses and my name is brought up again and again. I’m just trying to get my life back together and put this all behind me.
For those of you out there who happen to use marijuana for recreational use, be careful. Michigan law requires that your drivers license be suspened for 1 year, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING AT ALL! This is just a portion of the bullshit I have to deal with right now and It’s a pain in the ass. And to sum it up once more,…….When Andrews case comes up again, I’ll be watching and praying that he goes away for a long time. Maybe prison time will convince him that he is a sick Fuck and turn him into someones little bitch and hopefully he’ll get his ass fucked and ripped apart like he deserves!!!!

Maybe I shouldn’t be so upset about all of this, but would’nt you be???

Comment by Dominic Queentry — Sunday Feb 27, 2005 @ 9:30 pm

For all those out there who had read about this,……..It is I, Dominic who has delt with it first hand. I never knew Andrew,. I was approached by a kid who wanted to buy fireworks. Thats it!! The next thing I know is the wrath of God has come down upon me with these accusations. I can only hope that our justice system works the way it should and it will put this psychopathic kid behind bars for the next 20 years or so. My life is so messed up right now and for the charge of possesing explosives,……I had chemicals to make model rocket engines and a few packs of firecrackrs,……thats all,……..nothing more. it goes to show that Its not what you have , it’s what you know that will gt you fucked over!!

Comment by Dominic Queentry — Wednesday Feb 23, 2005 @ 1:02 am

on judgment day ill prolly kill him, my mom, my sistyer, my autisitc brother and my 3 cats
bring a gun to school, ur on the front of every newspaper
didnt choose this life, but i damn well chose to exit it
i cant imagine going through life without killing a few people
got that has to be so hard
nothing wrong with killion
all god's creatures do it
in one form or another
yep
people can be kissing my shotgun straight out of doom
i tell it how it is
if u dont like it u die
if i dont like what u stand for, you die
if i dont like the way u look at me, u die
i choose who lives and who dies

Dozens of Chippewa Valley students attended Wednesday's hearing as part of a government class at the high school.

One of them, student government president Tom Novik, said he and his fellow students could have sat in on another case. But the 17-year-old said it was important to come to Osantowski's hearing.

"I took it personally when it happened," Novik said. "I was worried for everyone. ... As of now, I think it's behind us."