Medicine Hat girl guilty of first-degree murder *1st post edited

[columbine]

I am sure there is a lot more to come, this story is more complex and there will be undercurrents here. My question at this point is how did the girl get this way? It will be interesting to see the facts. Perhaps as a society we can learn something from this horrible tragedy.

Well, I can see two possibilities.

1) Mental illness is stigmatized - you don't want your schoolmates knowing you're "cuckoo," and you don't want your neighbors knowing your kid is "cuckoo."

2) Medical care is fast becoming a privilege for the rich. Even if she were herded through a high-speed HMO checkup annually, this kid's illness probably wouldn't show up unless her folks heeded the clues, took the plunge, braved the potential ostracism, and had her evaluated for mental illness (most likely at their own expense, as "Managed Care" doesn't encourage diagnostics that might leave them no contractual recourse but to pay for treatment).

Love, Columbine

[Lady's Human]

2) Medical care is fast becoming a privilege for the rich.

But this was in Canada. You know, the wonderful national medical system we are theoretically insane if we don't emulate? EVERYONE gets medical care in Canada, Gratis.

[columbine]

But this was in Canada. You know, the wonderful national medical system we are theoretically insane if we don't emulate? EVERYONE gets medical care in Canada, Gratis.

Even mental health? Wow... I know that at least accessible substance detox programs would be really helpful where I live (Boston).

I do acknowledge that some folks would consider even blatant hatred "teen rebellion" and try to punish it out of their kids, though, whether or not medical care was available. (insert oobleck recipe here)

Love, Columbine

[Marigold2]

There are almost as many possibilites as mental disorders.

1) She could have been molested by her father or close relative.
2) Her parents could be drug users.
3) Her parents could have been drunks.
4) She or her parents could be suffering from depression, obbsessive disorders, multi-personality and the list goes on.

Someone, somewhere failed this girl. Be it the parents, friends, society.
I think it's a little of both. This girl did not go bad in one day. There were signs, there were hurts inflicted and no help came. I have a friend who's daughter was molested by the uncle and mom and dad just couldn't bring themselves to take this girl to therapy. Mom is depressed, dad was ashamed. This poor girl has done so many horrible, unspeakable things. Acting out in pain and confusion. Had she gotten the help she needed her life would be much different now.
Remember this girl is only 12 and at that age adults seem very smart and powerful. If she had a close loving relationship with her parents or another relative this would not have happened. All kids get mad at their parents, lucky most of our kids don't kill us. This isn't a matter of a girl who got mad, this is a matter of pain so deep and so overwelming that she struck out in an equally painful way. No 12 year old dates someone this age unless they cannot relate, respect, confide, in their parent or parents. All of us that have raised girls that age understand how frightened, confused, shy, embrassessed, overwelmed, they are on a daily basis. It is such a time of growth and confusion. One minute they are playing with Barbie's the next they are pushing you away. One minute it's mommy come sit with me and lets watch a movie together and the next hour she is in her room wanting nothing to do with you. Normal behavior but still loving and 12 year olds still come to mom and dad and know we can fix just about anything. At 12 they still sometimes sit on your lap, want tons of hugs and kisses. Request pink cupcakes with lots of sprinkles and ask you to buy them sparkle nail polish. That is normal. Dating a 20 something is not. I believe this girl was hurt by someone, someone she loved and trusted and that trust was so broken that she could no longer go to mom and dad. Did her parents break that trust. Time will tell. The other answer could be deep deep mental illness on her part, if that was the case her parents should have had her in therapy and a restraining order issued for el-creepo.