Posted on 11/08/2002 8:24:47 AM PST by Lassiter
A forensic psychologist probing the mind of Reginald Carr said Thursday that he found it filled with memories of incest, clouded by drug abuse, and haunted by anger and aggression.
What Thomas Reidy said he recently learned about Reginald Carr and his family fits profiles of violent behavior developed by the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and the surgeon general.
Testifying during the penalty phase of Reginald and Jonathan Carr's capital murder trial, Reidy said that of the list of risks that may lead to criminal behavior, the Carr family experienced nearly all of them.
Prosecutors spent hours of contentious cross-examination trying to dismiss Reidy's findings. It will be up to a jury to decide whether the Carr brothers receive the death penalty for a quadruple homicide Dec 15, 2000.
But for a community searching for answers to a heinous crime that left five people shot execution-style at a snowy soccer complex, Reidy's study proved startling in the number of problems it found in Reginald Carr's upbringing.
"These aren't meant to excuse behavior, but just to explain why people become violent," Reidy told Reginald Carr's lawyer, Jay Greeno.
While Reidy examined only Reginald Carr, another psychologist is expected early next week to testify about Jonathan Carr.
Reidy's interviews with Reginald Carr, 24, and his relatives offered a glimpse into the brothers' lives leading up to their weeklong crime spree that left five people dead.
Reidy admitted on cross-examination by Kevin O'Connor, chief litigator for the Sedgwick County District Attorney, that people often overcome a harsh childhood to become productive members of society.
"But the more risk factors there are, the more likely you are to have criminal activity," Reidy said.
It's not just that Reginald Carr grew up in a household where his parents fought violently, he said. And it's not just that Reginald Carr's father disowned him around the age of 6.
Reidy said Reginald Carr's life combined those with other traumas, including:
Incest permeating his immediate and extended family. Introduced to sex around age 6 or 7, Reginald Carr discovered pornographic pictures of his mother and a stepfather, which he kept hidden until recently.
Uncles who gave him liquor at age 11 and recruited him into their drug trade. Some of those uncles built their own criminal records.
A distant and detached mother who often left him with relatives, disappearing for days and weeks. By her own admission, she would spank them with belts. Jonathan's oldest sister said she and the brothers would sometimes take the beatings on their bare bodies. If the belts weren't around, an electric cord would do.
Seeking belonging through gangs and experiencing the loss of a cousin in Cleveland who was shot in the back of the head.
There was no stability, even at school.
Reidy found that Reginald Carr attended eight schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. By then, he had sexually harassed a teacher on one of the days he bothered showing up. He was absent 32 days that year.
During his freshman year in high school at Dodge City, Reginald Carr earned 21 detentions and suspensions. After beating up a student, he dropped out of ninth grade, Reidy testified, before the school could kick him out.
Reginald Carr earned his GED but ended up on criminal probation at age 16 and was in prison by 18.
Phyllis Harding, an aunt in Dodge City, testified Thursday that she spent most of Reginald Carr's life away from her family, attending college and pursuing a career as a pediatrician. But she remembered Reginald as full of rage and unable to hold a job for more than a few months.
Reidy uncovered details of Carr's troubled past through extensive interview processes designed by psychologists to extract painful information. Prosecutors tried to portray the stories as being invented by the Carr family to save the two brothers.
But Reidy said no one, not even Reginald Carr, volunteered the information, and some relatives denied what others said. He put together his profile, for the most part, by combining common details relayed by several separate sources.
"It was like pulling teeth," Reidy said.
Reidy added, however, that Reginald Carr was capable of making choices and understanding right from wrong.
But with such distance all his life from stable caretakers and from unconditional love, the psychologist said Reginald Carr might not have hated his victims. He may have just grown to see human relationships as insignificant and lives as disposable.
"You don't get the kind of crime you've got here without someone being damaged," Reidy said.
Reach Ron Sylvester at 268-6514 or rsylvester@wichitaeagle.com.
These guys got an early start to their life of crime. I'm glad the justice system protects us so well from animals like this. I wonder how many more Reginald and Jonathan Carrs wander the street planning their next murder or rape?
No redemption, let's make sure they never see freedom again - ever.
I'd love to see a prosecutor in cases like this respond to such idiocy by agreeing with the forensic psychologist.
"You're absolutely right, sir -- the defendant has plenty of things in his past that drove him to do these horrible things. All the more reason why the bastard needs to be executed as soon as possible!"
| YOUR ARTICLE: A forensic psychologist probing the mind of Reginald Carr said Thursday that he found it filled with memories of incest, clouded by drug abuse, and haunted by anger and aggression. What Thomas Reidy said he recently learned about Reginald Carr and his family fits profiles of violent behavior developed by the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and the surgeon general. Testifying during the penalty phase of Reginald and Jonathan Carr's capital murder trial, Reidy said that of the list of risks that may lead to criminal behavior, the Carr family experienced nearly all of them. Prosecutors spent hours of contentious cross-examination trying to dismiss Reidy's findings. It will be up to a jury to decide whether the Carr brothers receive the death penalty for a quadruple homicide Dec 15, 2000. But for a community searching for answers to a heinous crime that left five people shot execution-style at a snowy soccer complex, Reidy's study proved startling in the number of problems it found in Reginald Carr's upbringing. "These aren't meant to excuse behavior, but just to explain why people become violent," Reidy told Reginald Carr's lawyer, Jay Greeno. While Reidy examined only Reginald Carr, another psychologist is expected early next week to testify about Jonathan Carr. Reidy's interviews with Reginald Carr, 24, and his relatives offered a glimpse into the brothers' lives leading up to their weeklong crime spree that left five people dead. Reidy admitted on cross-examination by Kevin O'Connor, chief litigator for the Sedgwick County District Attorney, that people often overcome a harsh childhood to become productive members of society. "But the more risk factors there are, the more likely you are to have criminal activity," Reidy said. It's not just that Reginald Carr grew up in a household where his parents fought violently, he said. And it's not just that Reginald Carr's father disowned him around the age of 6. Reidy said Reginald Carr's life combined those with other traumas, including: Incest permeating his immediate and extended family. Introduced to sex around age 6 or 7, Reginald Carr discovered pornographic pictures of his mother and a stepfather, which he kept hidden until recently. Uncles who gave him liquor at age 11 and recruited him into their drug trade. Some of those uncles built their own criminal records. A distant and detached mother who often left him with relatives, disappearing for days and weeks. By her own admission, she would spank them with belts. Jonathan's oldest sister said she and the brothers would sometimes take the beatings on their bare bodies. If the belts weren't around, an electric cord would do. Seeking belonging through gangs and experiencing the loss of a cousin in Cleveland who was shot in the back of the head. There was no stability, even at school. Reidy found that Reginald Carr attended eight schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. By then, he had sexually harassed a teacher on one of the days he bothered showing up. He was absent 32 days that year. During his freshman year in high school at Dodge City, Reginald Carr earned 21 detentions and suspensions. After beating up a student, he dropped out of ninth grade, Reidy testified, before the school could kick him out. Reginald Carr earned his GED but ended up on criminal probation at age 16 and was in prison by 18. Phyllis Harding, an aunt in Dodge City, testified Thursday that she spent most of Reginald Carr's life away from her family, attending college and pursuing a career as a pediatrician. But she remembered Reginald as full of rage and unable to hold a job for more than a few months. Reidy uncovered details of Carr's troubled past through extensive interview processes designed by psychologists to extract painful information. Prosecutors tried to portray the stories as being invented by the Carr family to save the two brothers. But Reidy said no one, not even Reginald Carr, volunteered the information, and some relatives denied what others said. He put together his profile, for the most part, by combining common details relayed by several separate sources. "It was like pulling teeth," Reidy said. Reidy added, however, that Reginald Carr was capable of making choices and understanding right from wrong. But with such distance all his life from stable caretakers and from unconditional love, the psychologist said Reginald Carr might not have hated his victims. He may have just grown to see human relationships as insignificant and lives as disposable. "You don't get the kind of crime you've got here without someone being damaged," Reidy said. Reach Ron Sylvester at 268-6514 or rsylvester@wichitaeagle.com. |
THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE: A forensic psychologist probing the mind of Reginald Carr said Thursday that he found it filled with memories of incest, clouded by drug abuse, and haunted by anger and aggression. What Thomas Reidy said he recently learned about Reginald Carr and his family fits profiles of violent behavior developed by the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and the surgeon general. Testifying during the penalty phase of Reginald and Jonathan Carr's capital murder trial, Reidy said that of the list of risks that may lead to criminal behavior, the Carr family experienced nearly all of them. Prosecutors spent hours of contentious cross-examination trying to dismiss Reidy's findings. It will be up to a jury to decide whether the Carr brothers receive the death penalty for a quadruple homicide Dec 15, 2000. But for a community searching for answers to a heinous crime that left five people shot execution-style at a snowy soccer complex, Reidy's study proved startling in the number of problems it found in Reginald Carr's upbringing. "These aren't meant to excuse behavior, but just to explain why people become violent," Reidy told Reginald Carr's lawyer, Jay Greeno. While Reidy examined only Reginald Carr, another psychologist is expected early next week to testify about Jonathan Carr. Reidy's interviews with Reginald Carr, 24, and his relatives offered a glimpse into the brothers' lives leading up to their weeklong crime spree that left five people dead. Reidy admitted on cross-examination by Kevin O'Connor, chief litigator for the Sedgwick County District Attorney, that people often overcome a harsh childhood to become productive members of society. "But the more risk factors there are, the more likely you are to have criminal activity," Reidy said. It's not just that Reginald Carr grew up in a household where his parents fought violently, he said. And it's not just that Reginald Carr's father disowned him around the age of 6. Reidy said Reginald Carr's life combined those with other traumas, including: Incest permeating his immediate and extended family. Introduced to sex around age 6 or 7, Reginald Carr discovered pornographic pictures of his mother and a stepfather, which he kept hidden until recently. Uncles who gave him liquor at age 11 and recruited him into their drug trade. Some of those uncles built their own criminal records. A distant and detached mother who often left him with relatives, disappearing for days and weeks. By her own admission, she would spank them with belts. Jonathan's oldest sister said she and the brothers would sometimes take the beatings on their bare bodies. If the belts weren't around, an electric cord would do. Seeking belonging through gangs and experiencing the loss of a cousin in Cleveland who was shot in the back of the head. There was no stability, even at school. Reidy found that Reginald Carr attended eight schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. By then, he had sexually harassed a teacher on one of the days he bothered showing up. He was absent 32 days that year. During his freshman year in high school at Dodge City, Reginald Carr earned 21 detentions and suspensions. After beating up a student, he dropped out of ninth grade, Reidy testified, before the school could kick him out. Reginald Carr earned his GED but ended up on criminal probation at age 16 and was in prison by 18. Phyllis Harding, an aunt in Dodge City, testified Thursday that she spent most of Reginald Carr's life away from her family, attending college and pursuing a career as a pediatrician. But she remembered Reginald as full of rage and unable to hold a job for more than a few months. Reidy uncovered details of Carr's troubled past through extensive interview processes designed by psychologists to extract painful information. Prosecutors tried to portray the stories as being invented by the Carr family to save the two brothers. But Reidy said no one, not even Reginald Carr, volunteered the information, and some relatives denied what others said. He put together his profile, for the most part, by combining common details relayed by several separate sources. "It was like pulling teeth," Reidy said. Reidy added, however, that Reginald Carr was capable of making choices and understanding right from wrong. But with such distance all his life from stable caretakers and from unconditional love, the psychologist said Reginald Carr might not have hated his victims. He may have just grown to see human relationships as insignificant and lives as disposable. "You don't get the kind of crime you've got here without someone being damaged," Reidy said. Reach Ron Sylvester at 268-6514 or rsylvester@wichitaeagle.com |
Now go mind someone else's business.
Off'em!
FMCDH
That's fine with me. It may well have been abuse that turned them into monsters.
Now that they are monsters, though, we have to put them down.
I agree with you. The compassionate thing to do is to put them in a state that relieves them of these memories - the state of death.
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