8-year-old boy charged with St. Johns (AZ) double homicide - Updated 11/07/08, 9:00 a.m.

White Mountain Independent ^ | November 7, 2008 | Judy Hayes

[greyfoxx39]

ST. JOHNS - A shocking tragedy rocked St. Johns Wednesday afternoon - two men, one a well-known resident from a long-time St. Johns family, were killed shortly after 5 pm. Less than 24 hours later, police believe they have solved the crime - an 8-year-old boy has been charged with killing his father and a second man.

-SNIP-

"Officers arrived one minute later to find a male subject deceased outside the residence," read the statement. "Officers entered the residence to search for the suspect(s) and further possible victims. A second male subject located inside the residence was also deceased."

-SNIP-

Police issued a second press release which announced the double homicide investigation was now solved. "Arrested early this afternoon was a juvenile who was charged with the two homicides and is currently being held at the Apache County Juvenile Detention Center."

[greyfoxx39]

Good Lord...eight years old!

[umgud]

I have a 9 year old nephew evil enough to do this. Kid was just born a bad seed. Great family. Has a brother who’s perfectly normal, but this kid is just plain evil and I can’t see how he can live past his teens without killing or being killed.

[greyfoxx39]

How horrible for your family. Prayers up for all.

[elizabetty]

I wonder if he was being hurt by the men and felt the need to defend himself.

[cripplecreek]

I’ve got a nephew who was the same way. He was so bad that my sister wouldn’t leave him alone with the younger girls. Fortunately he seems to be coming around. He still does the stupid teenager stuff but really no worse than I did. He hasn’t managed to find jail like I did either.

[Hawk1976]

Something is missing here.

[Octar]

We had a neighbor with a bad seed kid. His name was Cary. Rhymes with scary. Shortly before we moved away, they were getting ready to do some painting. When they opened the paint cans, they discovered that Cary had placed a cat in each can.

Bad Seeds happen.

[Gay State Conservative]

Not to sound like a bleeding heart liberal social worker but I wonder if this kid might have been abused by one or both of the dead guys.That kind of thing *does* happen and when it's an 8 year old kid you can't necessarily expect "adult" judgment in dealing with it.

(Donning flameproof suit....)

[Hot Tabasco]

I have a 9 year old nephew evil enough to do this.

I remember a conversation a bunch of years ago with a friend of mine who was a child psychologist and we were discussing a case where I think a 7 year old child had bludgeoned to death a playmate.

My friend said that at that age his homicidal tendencies were already ingrained and that "successful" rehab would be quite unlikely.......In other words, a walking time bomb.

Birth to 7 with strict parental guidance is necessary to the healthy development of a normal.

adult.......

What we are seeing in the violence of our children in the inner cities and elsewhere is a direct result of the lack of discipline and guidance as mentioned above.....

I can't debate this as being right or wrong so please don't try to call me out on this........thanks

[Gay State Conservative]

Bad Seeds happen.

I agree.They do happen.But there's at least one other plausible explanation....a more "innocent" one.At least "innocent" from the kid's point of view.

[LakeLady]

Forget the suit, no flames coming from this lady.
I was thinking the same thing. There is something rotten here.

[21twelve]

I’ll flame you. What was wrong with his judgement if he killed the two guys abusing him? (If that were the case).

Well - other than his poor judgement of getting caught. ;)

Whatever happened - what a terrible situation. Eight-years old.

[kalee]

Someone came onto my FENCED property Halloween night and mutilated my small flock of Khaki Campbell ducks by cutting off their bills. Mind you they did NOT kill them but left them alive unable to eat or drink. I have one poor female left and she is so traumatized; she won’t come to us, hides, won’t even eat. I imagine she will soon be dead. I can’t get the image of my poor mutilated ducks out of my mind. Who could be this cruel to poor innocent creatures? EVIL, PURE EVIL!

[Gay State Conservative]

What was wrong with his judgement if he killed the two guys abusing him? (If that were the case).

I wasn't expecting to be flamed for being too hard on the kid.I was expecting the opposite.As I said you can't expect a kid of that age to make wise decisions when in tough or distressing....or dangerous...situations.So if he was being abused...injured...placed in danger...this is the kind of thing that just might happen.

[BerryDingle]

When they opened the paint cans, they discovered that Cary had placed a cat in each can.

Jeffrey Dahmer types usually grow up torturing animals or inflicting horrible deaths on them.

[Misterioso]

Why do you suppose there is no mention of the manner of the deaths? No mention of a weapon. Very sketchy report.

[umgud]

What we are seeing in the violence of our children in the inner cities and elsewhere is a direct result of the lack of discipline and guidance as mentioned above.....

This is most likely true in the vast majority of cases, but I still tend to believe there are exceptions to this.

[yldstrk]

Yeah, kinda makes you wonder....were the men molesting him?

[Irene Adler]

What a heartrending story! I am so sad for your poor ducks and for you, as well. How they must have suffered! Yes, some people are extraordinarily wicked and evil. I truly hate people who find pleasure in harming the innocent, humans or animals. I am so sorry this happened to your poor pets.