Va. Tech Killer Ruled Mentally Ill by Court; Let Go After Hospital Visit

**Terri** · #1 04-18-2007, 06:31 PM

ABC News

April 18, 2007 — - A court found that Virginia Tech killer Seung-Hui Cho was "mentally ill" and potentially dangerous. Then it let him go.

In December 2005 -- more than a year before Monday's mass shootings -- a district court in Montgomery County, Va., ruled that Cho presented "an imminent danger to self or others." That was the necessary criterion for a detention order, so that Cho, who had been accused of stalking by two female schoolmates, could be evaluated by a state doctor and ordered to undergo outpatient care.

According to the "Temporary Detention Order" obtained by ABC News, psychologist Roy Crouse found Cho's "affect is flat and mood is depressed.

"He denies suicidal ideation. He does not acknowledge symptoms of a thought disorder," Dr. Crouse wrote. "His insight and judgment are normal."

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Luckyme · #2 04-18-2007, 06:46 PM

It's impossible to get into someone else's head, but with all the signs, it seems he should have be taken more seriously. Don't we already have enough examples of what happens when this behavior is exhibited?

Amawalk John · #3 04-18-2007, 06:48 PM

Just wondering, with this court finding of mental illness, presumably in the Commonwealth of Virginia, how did the legal sale of the handgun(s) go through?

Not that that would have kept him from getting his hands on as many weapons and as much ammunition as he wanted ....

CSchultz · #4 04-18-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

In December 2005 -- more than a year before Monday's mass shootings -- a district court in Montgomery County, Va., ruled that Cho presented "an imminent danger to self or others."

Yet Nothing was done.

Quote:

two female schoolmates said they received threatening messages from him, and police and school officials became concerned that he might be suicidal.

Yet Nothing was done.

Quote:

On the form, a box is checked, showing that Cho "presents an imminent danger to himself as a result of mental illness."

Yet Nothing was done.

Quote:

It's unclear whether Cho went to the hospital with police on his own or was taken there under protective custody,

How can that be "UNCLEAR?"
.... Who drove the flippin car?

Quote:

One of the young women complained in November 2005 that Cho, then 21, was stalking her

Again... Nothing was done.

Quote:

It's unclear whether any action was ever taken by the school,

Nobody writes any of this stuff down???
I guess Nothing was done, that's still unclear???

Quote:

A second woman student, less than two weeks later, told authorities she received disturbing instant messages from Cho

Yet Nothing was done.

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professor Lucinda Roy went to administrators to voice her concern about violent themes in Cho's writing.

Yet Nothing was done.

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Roy told ABC News that Cho seemed "extraordinarily lonely -- the loneliest person I have ever met in my life."

Yet Nothing was done.

What have we become??

This is why I thank God each day that we homeschool.

**Terri** · #5 04-18-2007, 07:05 PM

Privacy.

ACLU.

Attorneys.

Lawsuits.

RealDeal · #6 04-18-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

One of the young women complained in November 2005 that Cho, then 21, was stalking her, but she declined to press legal charges against him. Police interviewed Cho for the first time and referred the case to the school's internal disciplinary board.

It's unclear whether any action was ever taken by the school, although Edward Spencer, a school vice president, said that it's not uncommon for a complaint never to reach a full hearing.

A second woman student, less than two weeks later, told authorities she received disturbing instant messages from Cho, and asked police to make sure there was "no further contact" from him.

Maybe it's time that the state take up the cause and file whether the woman presses charges, or not... like with battery cases. Once the woman reports, it's out of her hands, he/she will be investigated and prosecuted. (At least out here that's how it is.)

But again 20/20 hindsight for these two women and officials.

And all of this evidence put together is irrelevant really... for different agencies, people, etc... to KNOW that this he is peculiar/worrisome in general... it is only NOW, after the fact, that it becomes relevant, putting all the pieces together. But it has been done by reporters, law enforcement, and the school, not worried individuals... again, after there is a reason to put such evidence together.

Before the incident, there wasn't the "big picture" for any one agency or person to think that he was up to "something big". Why would they?

That's my

CSchultz · #7 04-18-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Privacy.

ACLU.

Attorneys.

Lawsuits.

Yea, I understand.

Quote:

Before the incident, there wasn't the "big picture" for any one agency or person to think that he was up to "something big". Why would they?

I think someone would have,...

That is if anybody had cared.

As I believe Terri pointed out. Todays intimidation venues have clouded our vision to the things that matter.

Like the person sitting next to us.

RealDeal · #8 04-18-2007, 07:36 PM

Well, what I am saying CS is that they thought he was a danger to "these two women" and "himself"... how could they know that he was going to go on a shooting spree?

It had been a "little thing" involving the safety of women (who did not feel it was worthy of pressing charges THEMSELVES, so why would the authorities think MORE of it?) and himself... not 32+ people.

CSchultz · #9 04-18-2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

It had been a "little thing" involving the safety of women (who did not feel it was worthy of pressing charges THEMSELVES, so why would the authorities think MORE of it?) and himself... not 32+ people.

I see your point RD. And I do understand your point of view.

Please bear in mind, that I poured Epsom salts baths for my mom, after nightly beatings for most of my life.

I have bandaged lower lips where the teeth poked through [both on myself and my mom] and have become an expert at lying to cover up the truth.

It is my belief, that the people who felt that this behavior was not worthy of pressing charges against, and the fear of the ACLU, attorneys, lawsuits, etc. are the product of a violent and uncaring, disassociated, desensitized, way of life.

A society that has turned its back on each other, Biblical teachings, and truth.

And I believe that our universities are on the forefront of revealing that fact of modern society to all of us.

One dead child at a time.

Thundercat505 · #10 04-18-2007, 08:11 PM

(As I believe Terri pointed out. Todays intimidation venues have clouded our vision to the things that matter.)

besides--of several reports I read last night there was a statement made about the "threats" reported after one teacher took him one on one to teach him since "he" didn't react well with other students, another reported that his writings were disturbing---the statement made was "there was nothing specific in the way of threats, therefore we could do nothing!!"

holding him without any "specific behavior" and then not doing the full range of observations is much of what allowed this to continue to this point. the shrink didn't think his denial of problems was abnormal and didn't follow up on it.