Brushes with Madness

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Planet,

Today I was reminded of how often I live in a cocoon. I overheard some coworkers talking about a recent murder that happened in town, they then mentioned a past incident regarding a student and suspicious circumstances.

It turns out that a student committed suicide eight months ago by jumping off of a parking garage in town. Some months after his death, multiple witnesses came forward implicating him in the death of a professor, including bludgeoning and immolation, in a parking garage no less, eight years earlier. These witnesses claimed they were afraid to come forward for fear of reprisal.

It turns out that the now deceased student was a student of mine a few summers ago. He came off as a bit irascible, but it's difficult to conceptualize occupying a shared space with an alleged murderer for six hours a week.

Needless to say, spooky.

Any similar events from you all?

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

No, but on Dec 20, 2009, he made me witness Jerome Harrison set the all time single game rushing record -286 yards- smashing Jim Brown's record. And he gave up two kick returns for TDs to Josh Cribbs...all on Fan Appreciation day.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...rushing-record

I was there. Hopefully you weren't the guy Big Philly puked on as we walked in the gates...

[NewChief]

When I was teaching Freshman Composition to undergrads while getting my Masters, I had a great student who was an excellent writer. Really sharp kid. We'd also bonded over the fact we were both Eagle Scouts, and he often wrote about scouting and outdoor adventure in his essays.

He doesn't show up to class for a couple of days, which I think is weird. Then I get called to the Dean's office and find cops waiting. They ask if I'd seen Robert lately. I told them no, and they informed me that he'd killed his ex-girlfriend and was on the run and suspected to be armed and dangerous. They eventually caught him, and he is still in jail to this day. Evidently he was obsessed with this girl, and she'd tried to cut him out of her life. He couldn't handle it, so he strangled her.

[displacedinMN]

I hope people share when they see/have seen crazy people going off at Mcdonalds.

[Producer]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

Where to start.

I grew up living across the street from the house where;

Bold and Brassy: Oklahoma's Own Black Widow is the true story of a 1908 murder that scandalized the nation. When Lawrence Matthews was found dead in his barn, it was assumed that mules had kicked him to death--until rumors started to spread about his widow Lorena Matthews and the Chicksaw hired hand, Jim Chapman, who spent a great deal of time alone with the boss' wife. Lorena was declared an unfit mother and ordered to give up her children to a guardian; instead, she took them and fled to Canada to reunite with her lover. At the time, the case was luridly sensational, and Lorena Matthews' life after the trial is itself a surprise. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating and extensively researched true crime account.

I played in the barn and house a lot as a child and never knew of any of it until a book was written about it when I was 30.

Next, the summer of 1988 I played coed softball with a quiet redhead;

On June 8, 1988 the nude bodies of Mark and Delores Stepp were discovered in the bedroom of their home. They had been viciously murdered; stabbed a total of 27 times, plus Mark Stepp had been shot as well.

The normally peaceful town of Stillwater, Oklahoma was shocked. Some feared drug-crazed addicts, or a Satanic ritual killing while others thought it was related to the Stepps' secret involvement in nudist activities.

The Stepps were regarded as a model American family, but following the police investigation, two likely suspects emerge -- Francine Stepp, the couple's daughter, and her best friend, Cindy Wynn.

Why would a teenager who "had everything" brutally murder her own parents?

I now live a few miles from the Clutter house;

Its' a small world but I would hate to have to mow it.

Dear MR. Wizard - I am a producer with a company called Jupiter Entertainment. We are producing an episode about Francine Stepp and I was hoping to speak with you. Can you please contact me as soon as possible 9_1_7/716/5.2.0.5

[KCUnited]

PM sent

[|Zach|]

Working at a police department and handling the calls it is wild the things that happen in this world on the daily. In big cities and suburbs and little sleepy towns all of it. You stop being surprised by anything after a while.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by mac459

Yes I called the police after I checked to see if anyone was still alive but it was obvious they both died instantly..checked the rest of the house while on the phone..went outside and waited on the cops..pulled my pistol and cleared it laid it on the ground..they asked me questions for a couple hours showed them the texts to prove I was there because of invite and no knowledge of anything..they cut me loose and I rode home

Jesus. What was that ride home like? You seem like an awesome person, mac. I am sorry life threw that sort of tragedy right in your face.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Working at a police department and handling the calls it is wild the things that happen in this world on the daily. In big cities and suburbs and little sleepy towns all of it. You stop being surprised by anything after a while.

I was surprised how Missouri funds 911 we might be the only state that does it this way and it's pretty ****ed up.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by Producer

Dear MR. Wizard - I am a producer with a company called Jupiter Entertainment. We are producing an episode about Francine Stepp and I was hoping to speak with you. Can you please contact me as soon as possible 9_1_7/716/5.2.0.5

I am Mr. Wizard, I have recently changed my username. Interested in sharing my story in exchange for sexual favors.

[Peter Gibbons]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I am Mr. Wizard, I have recently changed my username. Interested in sharing my story in exchange for sexual favors.

No. I am Spartacus.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I am Mr. Wizard, I have recently changed my username. Interested in sharing my story in exchange for sexual favors.

That’s not funny at all jackass

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I was surprised how Missouri funds 911 we might be the only state that does it this way and it's pretty ****ed up.

It really is. Only place like that...they are trying to change it but who knows what happens.

I will say our technology in the area is fairly on par with a lot of places.

My ability to find you if you don't know where the hell you are is mostly based on your cell phone network and technology and area you are in. It seems from our conversations you still live in the city which is easier for getting a good location because of more towers.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

It really is. Only place like that...they are trying to change it but who knows what happens.

I will say our technology in the area is fairly on par with a lot of places.

My ability to find you if you don't know where the hell you are is mostly based on your cell phone network and technology and area you are in. It seems from our conversations you still live in the city which is easier for getting a good location because of more towers.

The latter part is good but the owner of Clints Comics comes to mind and that should absolutely never ever happen. It's not your guys fault obviously.

I had a guy break into the fourier of my apartment, I could hear him picking the lock from outside. I literally watched him from my peephole try to open every door in the building besides mine (I had my TV on) when I called 911 I was put on hold. I called my neighbor across the street who was armed thankfully by the time he came over the guy left. 911 called back and nobody ended up showing up. They asked me if he was armed I honestly couldn't tell because I didnt want to make a bad situation worse.

After that I researched it and thought it was a city issue. Was really surprised to see how the process actually works and really hope its fixed.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

The latter part is good but the owner of Clints Comics comes to mind and that should absolutely never ever happen. It's not your guys fault obviously.

I had a guy break into the fourier of my apartment, I could hear him picking the lock from outside. I literally watched him from my peephole try to open every door in the building besides mine (I had my TV on) when I called 911 I was put on hold. I called my neighbor across the street who was armed thankfully by the time he came over the guy left. 911 called back and nobody ended up showing up. They asked me if he was armed I honestly couldn't tell because I didnt want to make a bad situation worse.

After that I researched it and thought it was a city issue. Was really surprised to see how the process actually works and really hope its fixed.

For sure. Can depend on when you call or what is going on...generally 911 is not that bad but there is a lot of assessment of what exactly going on and what the threat level is. There are peak times for calls as well police departments are a lot busier in the summer and when there is nice weather. If your call would have been fielded a little quicker its a legit get someone there as fast as you can situation.

We are always going to ask if you see any weapons but yes your instinct not to put yourself in a worse situation by trying to get that info is a good one.

Dispatcher centers are understaffed nation wide. There is a lot of turnover and burnout...also its harder to directly tie communications to revenue like you can an officer so there is not as much of a focus in hiring them.

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by Pants

Jesus. What was that ride home like? You seem like an awesome person, mac. I am sorry life threw that sort of tragedy right in your face.

I made it a couple hours up the road, and then pulled into a hotel for the night. It was a lot to take in and I wasn’t able to focus on driving. Didn’t sleep very well, took forever to get to sleep, then tossed all night. Made the trip home seem like days instead of 12 hours or whatever it was.



Still haven’t really ever talked it out with anyone, I always change subject to get away from it. Spent a lot of time in combat during my career and can work through all of that. This event is the one really haunts me hard, a lot harder than anything else ever has.