Dylan Klebold's mom speaks in "O" magazine; "No inkling" of plans for Columbine massacre

Denver ComPost ^ | 10/10/2009

[real saxophonist]

Dylan Klebold's mom speaks in "O" magazine

"No inkling" of plans for Columbine massacre

By The Denver Post

Posted: 10/10/2009

Susan Klebold wrote an essay in the November issue of O magazine. (Denver Post file photo )An essay by the mother of Columbine killer Dylan Klebold says she had "no inkling" of her son's inner turmoil, and her examination of his journals has prompted her to learn about suicide in an effort to understand the school shooting.

The essay by Susan Klebold, which appears in the November issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, explores her son's role in the 1999 massacre where he and co-conspirator Eric Harris killed 12 students and a teacher and left two dozen wounded before killing themselves.

Neither family has spoken at length in the aftermath of what at the time marked the most deadly school shooting in U.S. history. Pending litigation contributed to the silence for several years, but even with the lawsuits resolved, repeated requests for interviews have been turned down.

In a news release, Oprah Winfrey also noted that Susan Klebold had declined interview requests but then, several months ago, agreed to write about her personal experience. The magazine released a few advance excerpts.

"From the writings Dylan left behind, criminal psychologists have concluded that he was depressed and suicidal," Susan Klebold wrote in one passage. "When I first saw copied pages of these writings, they broke my heart. I'd had no inkling of the battle Dylan was waging in his mind."

She added: "Dylan's participation in the massacre was impossible for me to accept until I began to connect it to his own death. Once I saw his journals, it was clear to me that Dylan entered the school with the intention of dying there. And so in order to understand what he might have been thinking, I started to learn all I could about suicide."

Susan Klebold received no payment for the essay, said a magazine spokesperson, but hoped to "raise suicide awareness and to generate support for organizations such as The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology."

A spokesperson for the Klebolds' attorney, Gary Lozow, would not field questions and said that the Klebold family would have no further comment.

The magazine hits newsstands on Tuesday.

In another passage, Susan Klebold recounted the early morning before the violence began:

"Early on April 20, I was getting dressed for work when I heard Dylan bound down the stairs and open the front door. Wondering why he was in such a hurry when he could have slept another 20 minutes, I poked my head out of the bedroom. 'Dyl?' All he said was 'Bye.' The front door slammed, and his car sped down the driveway. His voice had sounded sharp. I figured he was mad because he'd had to get up early to give someone a lift to class. I had no idea that I had just heard his voice for the last time."

Another excerpt describes her struggle to come to grips with the tragedy.

"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," she wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family, and about love."

[21twelve]

“...unless the child had both father and mother contributing emotionally....THAT THE CHILD WOULD BE OF NO LASTING GOOD TO SOCIETY IT’S WHOLE LIFE.”

Well - Obama sure adds to the proofs of this theory.

[Hepsabeth]

The Sheriff. I remember he told reporters that his priority when responding to the shooting was to “minimize police casualties.” He’s the one that ordered the cops to cower outside the school for so long.

[1010RD]

Excellent post and correct.

[1010RD]

There is some weird justification and denial going on in her mind to this day obviously.

You could be talking about Oprah or any other lib, no?

[Quix]

There is that alright!

[Quix]

Thanks for your kind words.

Evidently the pricked naysayers went away.

LOL.

God’s best to you and yours.

[1010RD]

You too. Good parents stand out. You can judge them by their children.

[Quix]

ABSOLUTELY.

There’s almost a glow about them. They love each other and their children and almost always love God overwhelmingly, too.

There’s a young couple at church. I think they have 7 kids. Mennoites, IIRC . . . who somehow ended up in a Charismatic church. Precious folks who are rearing their kids so well and now trying to reach out to Navajo orphan types who had to be taken away from alcoholic and otherwise abusive parents.

Incredinbly strong yet gentle; loving yet firm.

Thanks for your kind words.

[1010RD]

My personal experience is that every child loves a firm, loving person. I’ve had friends with “impossible” kids in shock that their son or daughter is quickly obedient to my requests or that we get along great.

I am saddened when I compliment a child in front of their parent(s) and they say, “You can’t be talking about my Billie/Susie.”

Most of the problems we deal with in society are parent caused - kids searching for the love/discipline (not punishment) they never got from their parents. They’ve reinforced the worst behaviors and that’s what we get.

[EDINVA]

Having your hair done the day after your son has massacred classmates and killed himself seems to make no sense unless you yourself have had a sudden, shocking, emotionally traumatic experience. The only way anyone can cope with that trauma (and in her case that burden) is to go about what s/he would have done absent the trauma. It’s a coping mechanism to hold onto what you can that’s ‘normal’ when your entire world has imploded on you.

[Don W]

While no fan of the victim’s mindset mama is exhibiting here, she could very well have been in shock. One’s mind does NOT work in normal patterns under the kind of stress she must have been under.

That she is still coherent and able to talk about it now is actually a GOOD thing. Perhaps she will finally learn what where and how things went wrong, then write about it so others can learn from her mistakes.

Oh damn, there’s that pathetic hope for humanity thing again...

[Quix]

ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON ANALYSIS, imho.

Thanks very much.

I’ve seen just that over and over and over again.

Well said.

Thanks tons.

Headed for bed.

Blessings to you and all those you Love.

[latina4dubya]

It’s a coping mechanism to hold onto what you can that’s ‘normal’ when your entire world has imploded on you.

yes--i call this "doing the next thing." we faced a major trauma in our family two years ago... having ordinary things to do is what kept me from falling apart completely... i did have moments of falling apart...

[EDINVA]

Exactly. I know when I received a call that my only sister and best friend died suddenly, totally unexpectedly, I did everything that was scheduled on my calendar that day. I HAD to, or wouldn’t have made it through the day. If I’d had a hair appointment I would have kept it! And maybe if I’d thought of it, I’d have made one. We just have to do what we have to do to keep it together as best we can.

[jocon307]

“Susan lebold had her HAIR DONE the DAY AFTER!!”

That is extremely messed up.

[gore_sux_2000]

Exactly correct. Who of us can say how we would deal with it? The day after my father died, my sister and I went to the salon together to get our hair cut and styled. It was too painful to think and plan for what was coming and we just wanted to take our minds off it all for a short time. My 2 brothers went out together for a couple drinks to talk and reminisce. We all deal with grief in our own ways...

Blessings to you and I am sorry for the loss of your sister.

[Sherman Logan]

So blame the police commanders. Don’t blame the individual cops who followed their orders when they desparately wanted to storm the building.

[SkyPilot]

raise suicide awareness

What a con job.

She still refuses to see the truth of what her son was and what he did.

She is trying to make him a "victim." Why doesn't she say that Hitler shooting himself in the bunker should all make us ponder "suicide awareness?"

They only shot themselves when cornered by police (who took their damn sweet time because they were afraid themselves).

She should have stayed silent.

Moreover, these two were probably demon possessed.

And YES - these two DID target Christians, despite the crap the FBI said later.

Meanwhile, Harris went over to another table where two girls were hiding, bent down to look at them, and dismissed them as pathetic. The pair went over to an empty table and began to reload their weapons. Schnurr, who had been hurt badly, began to cry out at that point, "Oh, God help me!" Klebold went back to her and asked her if she believed in God.

[Ann Archy]

You missed the whole damn point....her son KILLED PEOPLE....geesh.....not that her son just died....he KILLED PEOPLE.

[tioga]

I understand. Do you? Lots of suicidal people will take others along with them. If a person says he is suicidal, be afraid. If he will kill himself, why should he worry about killing you?

If you read the whole article you would have read this...."For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," she wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family, and about love."

I have some empathy for her.......you seem to think she is a heartless bitch because she got a haircut. I can forgive her, can you?