TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Tag: murder

  • Prophetic Patrick

    Capt. Fantastic over at The Cellar found a plethora of information about Patrick Armstrong, the 14-year-old accused of killing Marlee Johnston.

    CF found a LiveJournal by an alleged friend of Patrick Armstrong. It seems like they were writing some kind of zombie story together. Sound familiar?

    Anyway, check out this entry that was allegedly written by Patrick Armstrong…

    This is also by Patrick.

    There would be no heroic moment for (name removed, see update below). She did not get a chance to fight the good fight against the zombies. For the zombie of Patrick had laid in wait in their pond, until the moment was just right, at which point he thrust out one hand, grabbed (name removed) by the ankle, and pulled her into the water. She died a soggy death, and was quickly forgotten.

    Kind of eerily prophetic considering Marlee Johnston’s body was found in a pond.

    CF also found that Patrick Armstrong’s LiveJournal used the screen name “saintmaggot”. The LJ has since been deleted but CF was able to find Armstrong’s interests through LJVIZ where some of his interests listed are Columbine, Satanism, serial killers, Anton Lavey, deviant behavior, and shotguns. And this is the kid that his defense attorney says is well-adjusted.

    If you want to see more of the “zombie story” you can go here, here, here, and here.

    Again a huge TOF to Capt. Fantastic.

    UPDATE: I had to remove the name of one of the characters in the zombie because it turns out it’s the name of an actual person. Thanks again to CF for the info. Both CF and I are now thinking could it have been possible that he was planning on killing this other person instead of Marlee?

  • Defense attorneys say the stupidest things II

    Lawyer asks for delay on freeing suspect:

    The ever funny defense attorney Walter McKee strikes again. To refresh your memory McKee is representing 14-year-old Patrick Armstrong who is accused of killing 14-year-old Marlee Johnston. Some more gems from Mr. McKee…

    McKee said Thursday that he has received new information from the investigation into Johnston’s death, and about Armstrong’s character, that could affect the decision on whether Armstrong should be returned to his parents’ care.

    McKee said Armstrong has no criminal record and should be released to his parents’ custody while the case moves through the system. In the days since his arrest, a more troubling picture of Armstrong has emerged, as Web sites believed to have been produced by Armstrong profess his admiration for the Columbine school shooters and a notorious serial killer.

    McKee downplayed the significance of the material on Thursday.

    “There are a lot of things that 14-year-olds say to other kids that would be disturbing if you took it out of context,” he said.

    Out of context? Are you kidding me? How is claiming Columbine killer Eric Harris as your hero considered out of context? The thought process of criminal defense attorneys astounds me sometimes. And they went to law school to learn how to come up with this crap.

    Some not so funny stuff came out of this article too…

    Armstrong will face different penalties depending on whether he is charged as a juvenile or an adult. Because he is younger than 18, he could be committed to a juvenile detention center until his 21st birthday. If convicted as an adult, he would face 25 years to life in prison.

    The judge would consider the seriousness of the crime, as well as the likelihood that Armstrong would benefit from treatment. In Maine, no one has been tried as an adult in the last 40 years for a crime committed when they were 14. Several defendants have been charged as adults for crimes committed when they were 15.

    Let’s hope Maine decides to end the streak. 7 years in juvenile detention is not nearly enough for a killer.

  • Defense attorneys say the stupidest things

    Attorney: Suspect had normal upbringing:

    Defense attorneys continue to make me chuckle. Take, for instance, defense attorney Walter McKee. He’s representing 14-year-old Patrick Armstrong of Fayette, Maine, who is charged in the murder of 14-year-old Marlee Johnston. He’s trying to portray Armstrong as your average American boy next door…

    The boy charged last week with killing a 14-year-old girl grew up with pets, laughed as he sat on a sled and learned to ride a horse.

    Family photographs supplied by defense attorney Walter McKee show typical childhood poses of Patrick Armstrong, now 14, of Fayette, who was arrested in the Nov. 26 death of Marlee Johnston, a neighbor.

    “People have seen a picture of him going to court and made incredible judgments about who he is and what he did. There’s far more to it than that,” McKee said. “He led a very normal, small-town life, nothing unique or out of the ordinary or disturbing. He was just a boy growing up in central Maine. He didn’t torture animals.

    “Children at 14 years old, young teenagers, often have conflict with their parents. They think bad things and they say bad things; it doesn’t mean they’re going to do it,” said McKee. “We wouldn’t expect they would act on those things. He’s a 14-year-old, not a 24-year-old.”

    Let me refresh your memory on what this all American boy allegedly said on his website…

    “I hate this society and I hate most people within it,” the site reads. In a list of general interests, the site mentions skateboarding, hanging out with friends, serial killers and Columbine High School, among others. A list of heroes mentions Eric Harris, one of the gunmen in the 1999 Columbine shootings in Colorado.

    “I am very interested in serial killers and school shootings and I find it hilarious that this fact bothers people,”

    Here’s what McKee said about that…

    “These are things people say off the cuff thinking it’s funny. When you’re 14, you don’t realize how inappropriate it is when you say certain things,” said McKee.

    No, I think when you list serial killers as your heroes even at the age of 14 you know how inappropriate it is. It galls me to see people like this list killers as their heroes. When I was a kid the first serial killings I remember hearing about on the news were the Son of Sam killings. I couldn’t imagine, even at that age, going around saying, “Yeah, David Berkowitz is cool. He’s my hero. I want to be just like him.”

    But this was the funniest thing of all…

    He also said he plans to ask that Armstrong be released in the custody of his parents.

    He can’t be serious, can he? Stay tuned and I guess we’ll find out together.

  • Zarate’s brother charged with murder

    New murder charge in Randolph killing:

    There’s been a major development in the ongoing story of Jonathan Zarate. To sum up 18-year-old Zarate killed 16-year-old Jennifer Parks, dismembered her body, hid her body in a trunk, hid the trunk in his dad’s Jeep for 24 hours, then tried dumping her body in the Passaic River. Now his 15-year-old brother known only as “J.Z.” has now been charged with helping his brothers commit the murder. Originally “J.Z.” was only charged with unlawful disposal of human remains and hindering apprehension…

    This afternoon, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office served him with a complaint that charges him with being a principal or accomplice to the July 30 beating and stabbing death of the 16-year-old Parks girl.

    Assistant Prosecutor Ralph Amirata would not give many specifics on the reasons for the first-degree charge against the juvenile, but acknowledged it is at least in part based on statements provided by a 16-year-old Clifton youth, who helped the teen and 18-year-old Jonathan Zarate try to throw a steamer trunk containing the girl’s corpse over a bridge into the Passaic River. The disposal attempt was thwarted when police passed by.

    At a hearing tomorrow, prosecutors are going to ask the judge to let them try “J.Z.” as an adult.

  • Why is this even a question?

    Juvenile or adult? Armstrong trial forces difficult decision:

    This is an editorial about whether or not Patrick Armstrong, the 14-year-old accused of killing 14-year-old Marlee Johnston from Fayette, Maine, should be tried as an adult or not. The editorial meanders around for a bit but finally gets to its point…

    Nothing society can do is a fair exchange for what was done to Marlee, whom all describe as vibrant, joyful, caring and kind. Nothing can return her to her family and friends or replace the life she would have lived.

    That would be equally true if her killer were imprisoned for the rest of his life.

    The right answer balances many needs: the need for society to be protected from people of any age who pose a danger, the need to punish the guilty, the need to rehabilitate those who commit crimes.

    The juvenile justice system is based on the theory that children who commit even the worst crimes can grow into productive adults. That is clearly more true of younger lawbreakers than older ones.

    Considering his age, even if he is convicted as an adult, Armstrong is very likely to be released from prison while still a young man. That would make treatment and rehabilitation at least as important as punishment. That treatment is more likely at a juvenile detention facility than at a state prison.

    It is difficult to look past the anger and grief we all feel at Marlee Johnston’s death, to move beyond the need for vengeance, but the prosecutors and judge who deal with this case must do so.

    We recognize that not all the facts of this case have been disclosed. It is unlikely, but possible, that prosecutors will find information or evidence that would argue against keeping the case in juvenile court.

    Those unlikely circumstances would have to be compelling to overcome the fact that Patrick Armstrong is a boy, not a man.

    The author of this editorial is misguided at best.

  • Patrick Armstrong

    Neighbor accused

    Judge orders youth held in girl’s murder:

    14-year-old Marlee Johnson from Maine was murdered last weekend. One Patrick Armstrong, also 14, is being held in her murder. The cause of death and motive for the killing have not been released yet. It has also not been decided on whether or not to try him as an adult. Why my interest in this particular case you ask. I’ll show you…

    Hours after the killing, police were looking into a personal Web site believed to be Armstrong’s, a source close to the investigation said.

    The name, birthdate and other personal details match Armstrong exactly, though authorities have not confirmed that Armstrong is the author of the content. Pages downloaded from the site were circulating among Kents Hill School students early this week.

    The site could be interpreted as the ramblings of a troubled individual, or someone who enjoyed sharing very dark humor with friends given access to the site.

    “I hate this society and I hate most people within it,” the site reads. In a list of general interests, the site mentions skateboarding, hanging out with friends, serial killers and Columbine High School, among others. A list of heroes mentions Eric Harris, one of the gunmen in the 1999 Columbine shootings in Colorado.

    And from the second article…

    McKee said that Armstrong, who has been home-schooled his entire life, has no criminal history. But he said he was aware that police are examining a personal Internet Web site that includes some troubling references. The site is believed to be Armstrong’s and, according to sources, became part of the investigation shortly after the killing.

    On the private site, which was accessible to a small circle of friends, the author identified himself as “offensive” and hostile. Visitors who have posted comments on the site include someone claiming to be Armstrong’s sister.

    The site lists people the author “hates,” including “moronic jocks,” “bullies,” “old people,” and “little kids.”

    “I am very interested in serial killers and school shootings and I find it hilarious that this fact bothers people,” the author wrote. “I laugh at people, including myself, who get hurt, so if you ever see me lying on the ground next to my skateboard laughing, I’m probably also bleeding.”

    The site believed to be Armstrong’s lists Eric Harris, one of the Columbine shooters, as a hero.

    The kid is a mutant plain and simple. Another Harris and Klebold worshipper that decided to follow in their cowardly footsteps.

    As usual, we have a very funny defense attorney…

    Armstrong’s attorney, Walter McKee, said he will argue for his client to be released to his parents’ custody while the case moves through the court system.

    “He should be released to his mom,” McKee said. “He’s 14 years old, he’s never spent more than two nights away from home. He’s been there ever since he was a baby.

    “I know that’s difficult for everybody because it’s a small community, but it’s really appropriate with a boy that age,” McKee said.

    Which part about “He killed a girl” doesn’t he get? Killers don’t get to go home to mommy.

    More yuks from Mr. McKee…

    McKee made clear that his first job would be to keep Armstrong in the juvenile system. He said an adult punishment would be wrong for such a young person.

    “I think it’s scary,” McKee said. “It’s virtually unprecedented in the state of Maine. This means somebody 15 years old sitting in a corner of the Maine State Prison in Warren, and that’s just unheard of.”

    If an adult punishment is so wrong for a young person how do you think he feels about a 14-year-old girl who received an unsolicited death penalty? No trial, no appeal, no last meal, just death. And I’m supposed to feel sorry for a murderer that sits in state prison? I don’t think so. I don’t care about his age. He was old enough to allegedly make the decision to kill Marlee Johnston then he’s old enough to spend the rest of his life in jail.

    And once again this should serve as a warning to parents about their kid’s internet activities. Don’t believe me? How about this guy?…

    Today’s teenagers use the Internet to record their deepest feelings the way people once used private journals, said Dr. Andy Hinkins, the residency training director in child and adolescent psychiatry at Maine Medical Center and Spring Harbor Hospital.

    Whether the medium is the Web or a diary, the writer may hope that someone will find the document and do something about it, he said.

    “They can provide a psychological profile of the child,” Hinkins said. “It behooves us to be vigilant and take them seriously. It is not a normal part of adolescence to be writing such dark things.”

    Hinkins said he knows of no study that looked at what percentage of teenagers act out violent fantasies in their writing. But after the Columbine school shootings, in which the killers left disturbing letters and journals, families should not ignore them, he said.

    “I would certainly talk to the child about it,” he said. “And it would be helpful to have a mental health professional work with the family.”

    Couldn’t have said it better myself.

    My prayers and condolences go out to the friends and family of Marlee Johnson.

    A huge nod to The Cellar.

  • Esmie Tseng’s website

    Esmie Tseng’s website

    I originally told you about Esmie Tseng here. She was the 16-year-old girl from Kansas who allegedly stabbed her mother, Shu Yi Zhang, to death.

    At that time, I asked if anybody knew what her website was. I got an e-mail giving me a link to her Livejournal which according to the e-mail was shut down by a friend of hers who knew the password.

    I did a little more digging and I found a Google cached version of her Xanga site. Nothing of any great note. Nothing that would lead you to believe the crime she’s been accused of committing.

  • Esmie Tseng

    Esmie Tseng

    Kansas

    Teen is charged in mother’s death: (Log in info)

    Reason to Blow Up the World: The article isn’t too forthcoming with motive details, but since prosecutors intend to try her as an adult, we can possibly rule out self-defense.

    Anyway, for the fact that this 16-year-old girl, Esmie Tseng, would stab her own mother, Shu Yi Zhang, repeatedly. If tried as an adult, she could be sentenced to life. The article says that she had a website (probably myspace or something like that).

    Tip to VonMexican.

  • A message from Kyle Hulbert

    A message from Kyle Hulbert

    About a month ago, I re-told you the story of Kyle Hulbert. If you want the whole story, you can go here, here, and here.

    Long story short, Kyle was not in his right mind when he took part in a murder, and the mastermind behind it received a lighter sentence than Kyle. Kyle puts it better in his own words.

    Anyway, Kyle wanted to correspond with me through regular mail. Unfortunately, for privacy reasons, I don’t correspond with anyone via the mail, nothing against Kyle. Today, I received a message from him through a friend of his…

    Trench,

    Greetings; I understand you desire not to correspond via regular mail all too well, and I respect it. I just wish to extend my thanks to you for the “follow up” you posted on your site. I’m sure it will be of some help and I can use all that I can get. Again, thank you, and when the day comes (not if) that I am again roaming the Night, your site will be one I plan to frequent. Intelligence is rare in this world and must be appreciated. I appreciate yours, and I appreciate your help.

    Salud,

    Kyle Hulbert

    Like I said before, I think at the time Kyle was just an instrument in the murder, like a gun. It was Clara Jane Schwartz that pulled the trigger.

    And also, like I said before, Kyle freely admits to the killing and believes that he does deserve punishment. He just believes that the punishment he received was not equitable in relation to the sentence of Clara Schwartz, who would have gained the most from the murder, and I agree.

    You know I’m not the type that wants the system to coddle criminals, but if I believe that a sentence was unjust then maybe there’s some validity to the claim. And again, like I’ve said before, don’t believe me, see it Kyle’s own words.

  • Kyle Hulbert

    Kyle Hulbert

    Almost 4 years ago, I told you the story of Kyle Hulbert. Kyle killed biophysicist Robert M. Schwartz. At the time, I chastised the media for calling in a “ritual” killing. Later, I had heard from a friend of Kyle’s telling me more of Kyle’s situation that Kyle suffered from mental illness, was taken off his meds by a social worker, and that the killing was orchestrated by Schwartz’s daughter, Clara Jane Schwartz.

    Clara had convinced Kyle that her father was abusing her, and killing him would protect her. As it turned out, Clara was in line for a rather large inheritance if her father died.

    Clara was sentenced to 48 years, Kyle was sent away for life without the possibility of parole. Sentencing seems kind of lopsided, doesn’t it?

    Recently, I received an e-mail from another friend of Kyle’s. She told me of Kyle’s website, which documents what has happened to him since the murder.

    He does not deny killing Dr. Schwartz, and feels that he does deserve some of the responsibility in Dr. Schwartz’s death.

    However, he does feel that his sentencing was unjust since the mastermind behind the murder is serving a lesser sentence. I happen to concur. But you don’t have to believe me. Go to Save Kyle and judge for yourself.