Posted on 03/05/2006 5:01:15 PM PST by Former Military Chick
BUNKER HILL, Ind. -- Christopher Flauding was considered retarded.
Now, 27 years after he killed a Merrillville woman, he's about to go free, a bachelor's degree in anthropology to his name.
Flauding was 17 when he attacked Celia Villareal with a butcher knife as she walked into her far-Northwestern Indiana home. Now 44, Flauding disputes labels such as "borderline mentally retarded" and "a limited mind" that were attached to him -- and may have saved him from the death penalty.
Defense attorneys used the 17-year-old Merrillville High School junior's mental state as part of its case to keep Flauding off Death Row. The prosecution never rebutted it. And Lake Superior Court Judge Richard Maroc believed it, handing down a 60-year sentence.
But, in a recreational room at the Miami Correctional Facility in the Northern Indiana community of Bunker Hill, Flauding held a folder full of photocopied certificates and degrees.
He earned his general educational development certificate a year after entering prison. An associate's degree followed, then a bachelor of science in anthropology. Through a program offered by Ball State University, he made the dean's list twice and finished with a 3.39 grade-point average.
Nearly three decades after Villareal's death, Flauding readies himself for release from prison July 30.
He's a large man, standing about 6-foot-4 and weighing just under 300 pounds. He was large as a teenager, too, an awkward 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, and an easy target for ridicule from sharp-tongued high school students.
In 1979, Flauding said, he broke into the home on Merrillville's westside, where Villareal lived alone, and was waiting for two friends to arrive. Villareal, though, unexpectedly came home, he said.
Flauding said he, classmate Steven Glenn and another friend had planned to steal either a stereo or a television from Villareal's home "just for kicks."
"I got scared, and that's when it happened," he said. "It was the spur of the moment.
"There was a knife sitting on the table. I was drinking a little bit when it happened. It just happened. It's just so hard to explain."
Police and coroner's reports said Villareal was stabbed multiple times, perhaps as many as 30.
He took food and beer from the home before taking Villareal's purse and stealing her 1976 Buick Electra. Flauding said Glenn and the other friend never showed up.
"That was the only act of violence I ever had," Flauding said. "I've been through therapy and everything you could think of. There's no answer for it, really."
Deputy Prosecutor Karen Coulis, now a defense attorney, was 30 when she tried the case.
"He has served the sentence he was ordered to serve," Coulis said. "Am I concerned about his future? Absolutely. And I can't imagine how the Villareals are taking this. Nothing will bring back that truly wonderful woman.
"Hopefully, the education the state has provided him above and beyond that a lot of kids not committing those crimes will get will serve him well. I surely hope all the violent tendencies he showed have been expunged."
Maroc, 63, who retired from the bench in 2003, is practicing law in Munster. The Flauding sentencing was one of the most difficult decisions he made during his 24 years as a judge.
"I imposed death sentences after that," Maroc said.
"This was a case where it definitely was a consideration. But I felt at the time that the term of incarceration was the proper sentence."
If parole allows, Flauding hopes to settle himself far from Lake County.
"Have I paid for it? I don't know," Flauding said. "If I did 60 years, does that mean I paid for what I did? I don't know.
"Only thing I can do is try to do the best I can."
From the first day, Flauding said, he vowed to be a model prisoner. With good behavior, he would get out after 30 years.
But since he received a bachelor's degree, two years were removed. Six more months were taken off after he received a computer business certificate.
Flauding's plan is to earn his commercial driver's license and drive trucks for a living.
Villareal's children -- Albert Jr., 58, Fort Wayne; George, 56, Hobart; and George's twin sister, Sally Burcham, 56, Virginia Beach, Va. -- wonder if the family was duped 27 years ago when doctors claimed Flauding had limited intelligence.
If that's what kept him off Death Row, they said, why is he leaving prison with a decorated educational background?
"All of a sudden he's a doggone brilliant person," Albert Villareal Jr. said. "It just doesn't make sense."
We don't, really. Not like in other parts of the world.
And yet...if he lives the rest of his life without committing another significant crime, you'd have to call him "rehabilitated", which is a better outcome than could have resulted from anything I personally would have called "justice", and if he actually becomes a productive member of society--surely all good people must root for that--I'm not sure how I'd be able to reconcile it with my views.
More likely is that he'll kill again, I expect. But it's up to him, the modern Eliza Doolittle.
Sloppy prosecution, gullible judge. A losing combination every time.
In Texas, it seems all of a sudden, most of our murders are now being committed by the mentally retarded.
What a joke. 30 years, with time taken off for good behavior and time taken off for degrees received by a convicted, "retarded" killer, does not mean he has served the sentence he was ordered to serve. And this from the original prosecutor who was DUPED!
I wonder why we have fewer vigilantes. Escpecially in light of a movie industry that glorifies vigiliante justice.
Mental retardation is no excuse for reducing a perp's sentence.
Or should we punish people more the higher their IQ is?
Oh, Brother! Liberal dimwits are dominating the criminal justice system again. Watch the blood flow in the streets.
Well, either the court system or the education system sucks.
Or both.
Only the price of a law abiding productive citizens has been cheapened. Child rapist-murderers are, well, priceless.
Why you suspicious Conservative! Thinking the worst of a convict who has taken responsibility for his actions (PROOF: I was drinking a little bit when it happened. It just happened. It's just so hard to explain.") and wants to better himself.
Truck driving is not his goal, but is only a means to utilize his anthropology degree. He will study potential victims people and criminal/drug networks sub-cultures of America during his travels. Modern crime trucking requires extensive use of technology, hence his computer certificate is just further preparation.
I predict we'll hear more about him in the future---and I hope the court isn't fooled when we do.
what makes people think that it takes brains to go thru college and get a degree?.....it doesn't always.......plenty of very stupid people abound holding on to a diploma.....and plenty of the smartest people in the world never even get into college...
Judges should be held accountable.
I fear what I'd do to one if they let any killer of my family out for spurrious reasons.
This alone is why I worked hard for Mr. Bushs election. I knew the most important thing a president can do is install judges that rule by law using the constitution.
A judge lasts decades, a president at most for 8 years.
"Either that, or what everyone has always suspected about the Anthropolgy Department is true...."
LOL!:)
Primal Fear is the movie you are talking about. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117381/
bingo... thankx!!!
Unfortunately, the statute of limitations has run out on a wrongful death suit. The only thing you can do is run ads in local newspapers revealing the dirtbag's deed and pass out flyers telling the same. Find out his address and tell his neighbors about him. You can make life miserable for this bum so that he ends up jobless and on skidrow.
In 1979 Flauding was diagnosed as borderline mentally retarded. This was before doctors knew much about A.D.H.D.
He was not retarded but did have a learning disability. After receiving his GED he went onto learn how to work with this disability. He worked very hard to earn the degree from Ball State. He did earn this with alot of hard work. He also vowed to be a model prisoner so he could show his family and society that he is a changed person. He went to prison as a boy but now he is a man. He did kill, but he is no longer a threat. This man is a 6'6" gentle, middle aged man who paid his debt to society and deserves a second chance. Nothing he can say or do will ever take away the pain the Villareals have. But give the guy a chance to show us. After 27 years in prison the only job he is allowed to do is factory work or CDL Driver. Ex-prisoners cannot work with the public. He could be putting his advanced education he received to help others but state law says no. While some of you readers are bashing the Flauding's remember you are also bashing innocent victims, chris has family members who are being threated and harrassed for something they didnt do. Pick on the man but leave the children and siblings of Flauding in peace.
No. Dropping a piece of toast "just happens." Nicking yourself shaving "just happens." Tripping over a shoelace "just happens." Stabbing somebody thirty times doesn't "just happen."
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