12-year-old boy was taken into custody after his parents were found dead

[Sister Iroz]

Long Family Home

Investigators in Burlington say a 12-year-old boy was taken into custody after his parents were found dead and his 5-year-old sister and a 9-year-old brother were critically wounded.

Police found the bodies of Charles Long, 50, and his wife, Marilyn Long, 51, in their Burlington home Tuesday night after the 12-year-old boy called 911 at 6:40 p.m.

The boy told police that shots had been fired and three people were shot, said Steve Johnson, the assistant director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

When police officers arrived, they found five people in the home. Two adults were dead, two children had life-threatening wounds, and the 12-year-old boy was unhurt, Johnson said.

"The case has been referred to the district attorney for the filing of formal charges against the 12 year old," Johnson said at a 2:30 p.m. news conference.

No questions were taken by Johnson.

Police would not say what kind of injuries the younger boy and girl suffered, other than to say that they are dire. The children were taken to Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to a hospital in Denver, where they remained in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.

"We certainly hope they pull through," Johnson said.

The Longs were the parents to seven children. Most of their children are older and have already moved out, and the three who were home at the time of the shooting are home-schooled, neighbors said

"At this point, we have no reason to believe that there's any continuing risk to the community. However, we are pursuing any and all avenues in this investigation ... We have a lot of work ahead of us," Johnson said. "We are in the very early stages of the investigation ... We are very limited in the information that we can release."

The 12-year-old boy has been turned over to social services in Kit Carson County.

The warrants in the case have been sealed.

Johnson would not say how Charles and Marilyn Long were killed.

The coroner is conducting an autopsy and results are expected within a day or so, Johnson said.

[...]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...59/detail.html

[Pene784]

These really young killers scare the living hell out of me....and make me want to be extra sweet to my daughter while keeping a really good eye on her.

[Mommyof2]

These really young killers scare the living hell out of me....and make me want to be extra sweet to my daughter while keeping a really good eye on her.

I know right, I live with a 12yr old and a 13yr old.. I couldn't imagine them trying to kill me. I think I am safe for now. I just redid both of the girls rooms and they are full of love for me this week lol.

I can't iamgine what was going on in that home but I am certain it will all come out soon.

[Sister Iroz]

Charles and Marilyn Long

[...]

Investigators said the children were in critical condition but declined to reveal their injuries. Their church pastor said the children had also been attacked with a knife.

"The case has been referred to the district attorney's office for the filing of formal charges," said CBI division director Steve Johnson

[...]

Under Colorado law, the boy, whose name is being withheld by The Denver Post because of his age, could face adult charges in the case. Before that could happen, a juvenile court judge would have to find that the boy is a juvenile delinquent who committed a serious crime of violence and that "it would be contrary to the best interests of the juvenile or of the public to retain jurisdiction" in juvenile court.

The boy was taken before a juvenile court judge and will be held for now in a juvenile facility.

[...]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17525725

[tmdgirl]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110303/...do_family_shot

BURLINGTON, Colo. – Prosecutors plan to charge a 12-year-old Colorado boy with killing his parents and wounding two of his younger siblings.

District attorney Robert Watson says he plans to file first-degree murder and other charges against the boy by the end of Friday.

He hasn't decided whether he'll try to prosecute him as an adult. Watson says he'll take into account the wishes of the rural community of Burlington as he makes that decision.

Residents have expressed disbelief about the accusations. The family's pastor described the boy as a "good kid."

Authorities say the boy called 911 Tuesday evening to report a shooting in his home. Officers arrived and found the bodies of Charles and Marilyn Long. Two of their children were wounded — a 5-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy.

Authorities said the two children were critically hurt, but family members are said to be hopeful they'll recover.

I say go for trying him as an adult. He committed a very adult crime, he should have an adult punishment.

[Nell]

I say go for trying him as an adult. He committed a very adult crime, he should have an adult punishment.

He is twelve. Do you even remember being twelve? I barely do, and i know i wasn't a fully cooked person, shit i did was not rational when I look back on it. There is obviously something going on here we don't know about. I doubt he is just a bad seed.

[AngelFire]

Yeah there has to be more to this story.

[carolinablue]

Yeah, I'm with you; had to be something else going on. Maybe he suffers from an undiagnosed mental illness? Twelve years old is old enough to do this, but most at that age just don't understand the fallout. At 12 I doubt he thought beyond, "I hate them, I want them gone". Terrible thing to do, but I'll hold off until we hear why he did it.

[AngelFire]

When I was a kid, I hated my stepmother (I had reason, and I still hate her). I thought of many, many ways of killing her, sometimes I would think of killing my dad too. Never the thought of consequences, or laws came into my head. I don't know how to explain it other than I felt I lived in a make believe world. When I would go and actually do something bad, and got caught, it was surreal. Nothing seem permanent. I was screwed up big time....maybe something has gone wrong with this kid and he didn't know how to deal with things, or his emotions. I was a wild child in the sense that I would attack, my emotions were all over the place. I was lucky and later on in years sought medical attention and got the help I needed. But looking back at my life as a kid, I think I could have easily ended up committing a crime, I truly didn't understand.

Okay now you may start ripping me apart...I don't care

[tmdgirl]

When I was a kid, I hated my stepmother (I had reason, and I still hate her). I thought of many, many ways of killing her, sometimes I would think of killing my dad too. Never the thought of consequences, or laws came into my head. I don't know how to explain it other than I felt I lived in a make believe world. When I would go and actually do something bad, and got caught, it was surreal. Nothing seem permanent. I was screwed up big time....maybe something has gone wrong with this kid and he didn't know how to deal with things, or his emotions. I was a wild child in the sense that I would attack, my emotions were all over the place. I was lucky and later on in years sought medical attention and got the help I needed. But looking back at my life as a kid, I think I could have easily ended up committing a crime, I truly didn't understand.

Okay now you may start ripping me apart...I don't care

I would never rip someone apart for normal feelings. I'm sure when I was 12, I probably also had thoughts of killing or harming my parents or brother or whoever had pissed me off at the time.

My point in saying that this boy should get an adult punishment is this: He may be 12, and he absolutely may have issues that need to be dealt with and help given to him. But he also needs to pay for his actions, unless they were done in self defense (not thinking this was the case considering the injuries to the other children). Also, if this was in retaliation for long term abuse, then I think he might benefit more from therapy, help etc. rather than jail time.
If evidence turns up to show he did this out of anger, or no reason, then he should get jail time. I don't think they should send him to an adult facility, but he should get the same sentence an adult would get for the same crime. IE. spend a portion of his sentence in a juvenile facility until he becomes an adult, then transfer him to finish his sentence.

[Nell]

If evidence turns up to show he did this out of anger, or no reason, then he should get jail time. I don't think they should send him to an adult facility, but he should get the same sentence an adult would get for the same crime.

Don't agree with this and never will. How can you put a 12 year old in prison for life? Life is a damn long time. There is a reason that we have a juvenile system for children this young. Because they are still children, in thinking and in brain development. I am not saying he shouldn't be punished, that he shouldn't get jail time. I just don't agree with basically throwing a child away.

If our twelve year olds are old enough to be responsible at the same level of our adults, then why do we not let children of that age vote? Or drink alcohol? Or drop out of school? Or any number of other things.

[tmdgirl]

Don't agree with this and never will. How can you put a 12 year old in prison for life? Life is a damn long time. There is a reason that we have a juvenile system for children this young. Because they are still children, in thinking and in brain development. I am not saying he shouldn't be punished, that he shouldn't get jail time. I just don't agree with basically throwing a child away.

If our twelve year olds are old enough to be responsible at the same level of our adults, then why do we not let children of that age vote? Or drink alcohol? Or drop out of school? Or any number of other things.

I don't know if he would necessarily get life. I also don't think he should get a life sentence. But even at the age of 12, I do think he should serve some sort of sentence that is more than a slap on the wrist. I think if he does have problems that jail probably would not be the right choice. A facility that can help with any mental/physical issues may be more appropriate.

I would like to hear what other information comes out regarding the child and the motive behind his actions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110304/...do_family_shot

A 12-year-old boy accused of killing his parents and wounding two of his younger siblings is a "good kid" who is active in his church, often volunteering to hand out bulletins, work audio and video equipment and help other children learn Bible verses, friends and relatives said.

"Whatever caused it, he is still who he is. He's still my nephew. And the first question I would ask him is, 'How are you?'" Wally Long said Thursday in an interview broadcast on Denver television stations.

Doctors expect the injured children to fully recover, he said.

Wally Long added his brother and sister-in-law lived for their children and there was nothing to indicate something like this could happen.

"It's a mystery to me. I'm sure it's a mystery to everyone," he said.

The pastor at the family's church agreed, adding he was unaware of any changes in jobs, housing or schooling that the family may have been dealing with.

The Rev. Ron Lee said the 12-year-old boy was involved with church activities, including greeting visitors before Sunday service, running PowerPoint presentations and helping other children memorize Bible verses.

When a school activity prevented the boy from volunteering on Sunday, he called the church to make sure there was a substitute greeter, Lee said.

"He was pleasant, helpful, a good spirit, a good kid," he said. "I'm so shocked. I almost feel like I need to hear from him or one of the children. He's not your typical 12-year-old."

Typical family etc defending the suspect, but is he really a good child? Or did he have serious issues that others were not aware of?

[Marv]

IE. spend a portion of his sentence in a juvenile facility until he becomes an adult, then transfer him to finish his sentence.

I agree that if he did this out of sheer malice and not for a 'reason' (like abuse or whatever), then he should have to serve some time in an adult jail. I remember how disbelieving I was when James Bulgers killers were released without ever setting foot in an adult jail. I don't know what the US juvenile facility is like, but youth custody over here is like a holiday camp. There were reports of Thompson and Venables being taken out on shopping trips, out to watch premier league football matches, going out to theme parks etc. Their rooms were full of luxuries like tv's, games consoles etc. They were basically rewarded for being cold-blooded killers. And that is just plain wrong. Yes, they should have received counselling, but they should not have had all those perks which most kids who don't go around killing toddlers don't have access to.

And although Thompson seems to be keeping a low profile, Venables was in the news last year for being an asshole.



ETA: I also see nell's point that he shouldn't necessarily face life in jail, but that should be decided when all the facts are known, and when he has been assessed etc. He shouldn't necessarily just have a juvenile sentence either.

[Darsa]

Doctors expect the injured children to fully recover, he said.

I hope this is the case. And when they do recover, hopefully they'll be able to shed some light on why their brother would DO such a thing! I won't even begin to understand this or think what kind of a sentence is appropriate until there's a better idea as to what is/was going on...

[sheevaa]

I am likely going to be the unpopular view here. In my opinion, if you do an adult crime, you deserve adult time. Take into consideration if there was abuse, however, he attacked his siblings too. This is not someone I want back on there streets when they're 16.

I keep thinking of Jasmine Richardson in this case. No provocation at all, except that her family was trying to look out for her.

[carolinablue]

I have trouble with trying kids this young as adults; sixteen, seventeen, ok, but not younger. Reason? There is a reason we call them children; they are not mature. (I know this is an unpopular opinion). At this age, and up to sixteen, kids can't drop out of school and get a full-time job, can't get credit, sign contracts, join the military, marry, vote, sit on a jury, drink legally or give informed consent for sex....yet we expect them to face adult consequences for crime? He did a terrible thing, we don't yet know why.

He may have picked up a gun and gone on a rampage, he may have a serious mental illness, he may be a sociopath, he may have been abused, we just don't know. I'm going to stick my feet in the fire with another unpopular opinion: If we are going to give kids adult consequences, then we should give them the privileges of adulthood as well...and nobody wants to do that.

[walkingeagle]

I'm going to stick my feet in the fire with another unpopular opinion: If we are going to give kids adult consequences, then we should give them the privileges of adulthood as well...and nobody wants to do that.

I stuck my feet in that same fire a month or so back. Granted I caught some shit over it, but I think one or two people may have seen my thinking on that!

[Marv]

Take into consideration if there was abuse, however, he attacked his siblings too.

I am lucky enough to have had a pretty great childhood. No abuse, no neglect, plenty of love. So I really can't say how abuse would affect the mind of a 12yr old kid. Maybe he was singled out for abuse, and so resented the younger sibs. We have seen it often enough on DD where one kid in the family is abused, starved, beaten etc while the others do ok. IF that was the case here, then.......? He may have been so resentful of the sibs that he wanted them gone too. This is speculation on my part, of course, as the whole story is yet to be told, so right now it's 'maybe this and maybe that'. He could just be the plain evil spawn of satan.

[AngelFire]

I would never rip someone apart for normal feelings. I'm sure when I was 12, I probably also had thoughts of killing or harming my parents or brother or whoever had pissed me off at the time.

My point in saying that this boy should get an adult punishment is this: He may be 12, and he absolutely may have issues that need to be dealt with and help given to him. But he also needs to pay for his actions, unless they were done in self defense (not thinking this was the case considering the injuries to the other children). Also, if this was in retaliation for long term abuse, then I think he might benefit more from therapy, help etc. rather than jail time.
If evidence turns up to show he did this out of anger, or no reason, then he should get jail time. I don't think they should send him to an adult facility, but he should get the same sentence an adult would get for the same crime. IE. spend a portion of his sentence in a juvenile facility until he becomes an adult, then transfer him to finish his sentence.

Oh don't get me wrong, I am not implying he shouldn't have any consequences, I think he should. But to be tried as an adult and handed an adult sentence, seems too much, IMO. Like others have mentioned here, if kids are to be tried as adults then give them adult rights. That too sounds crazy too but we can't simply lock him up and throw away the key.

[Sister Iroz]

A 12-year-old boy was charged on Friday with murdering his parents and gravely wounding two of his siblings in a shooting and stabbing rampage in an eastern Colorado farming town.

Robert Watson, the district attorney for Kit Carson County, filed two counts of first-degree murder against the boy for the killing of his parents, Marilyn Long, 51, and her husband, Charles, 50, earlier this week.

Watson said in a telephone interview that the crime has rocked the residents of Burlington, Colorado, a rural town of 4,400 near the Kansas state line.

The filing of criminal charges against the boy, he said, will add to the grief of the community and the victims' family.

"The (Long) family is going be hurt even more," Watson told Reuters. "There is not going to be a happy ending."

Prosecutors also lodged attempted murder and aggravated assault charges against the boy for the shooting and stabbing of his nine-year-old brother, Ethan, and the slashing of his sister, Sara, 5.

The two small children remain hospitalized in Denver with serious wounds, but are expected to recover.

Because of the boy's age, the case was filed under a "juvenile petition," meaning if he is tried as an adult, those are the criminal charges he would face.

[...]

A juvenile court judge on Thursday ordered the boy held without bond, and he was transferred to a youth detention facility.

Watson said he has not decided whether to try the boy as an adult. That determination, he said, will be based on psychological reports, family history, the boy's maturity level and a number of other factors.

Should prosecutors seek to try the 12-year-old as an adult, a juvenile court judge must rule to move the case to adult court, Watson said.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wa...ers.of.parents

[Athena]

Colorado abolished LWOP sentences for juveniles back in 2006; instead, juveniles are sentenced to 40 years before being eligible for parole. I'm not too familiar with how juveniles tried as adults are treated, whether they're held in juvenile detention until they reach 18 or whether they're immediately remanded to an adult facility after sentencing, but I would hope it's the former, as there are generally far fewer educational and rehabilitative opportunities in adult facilities.

I don't and will never agree with trying children as adults. It flies in the face of logic. We don't give children adult privileges when they're exceptionally good, so it makes no sense and is entirely unfair to give them adult punishments when they're exceptionally bad. The child brain is impulsive by its very nature. Kids lash out without consequence ever crossing their minds. In some respects, they're not yet capable of fully grasping the nature of their actions or the long term consequence.

9 times out of 10, this fixes itself as the child becomes an adult, and the released child murder never murders again. It's very much like a person who kills during a psychotic break poses no threat after receiving treatment. If the insane don't deserve the sentence of a sane person, a child should not deserve the sentence of an adult person. That's the whole reason why we established a juvenile justice system to begin with.

[Aena]

I agree that if he did this out of sheer malice and not for a 'reason' (like abuse or whatever), then he should have to serve some time in an adult jail. I remember how disbelieving I was when James Bulgers killers were released without ever setting foot in an adult jail. I don't know what the US juvenile facility is like, but youth custody over here is like a holiday camp. There were reports of Thompson and Venables being taken out on shopping trips, out to watch premier league football matches, going out to theme parks etc. Their rooms were full of luxuries like tv's, games consoles etc. They were basically rewarded for being cold-blooded killers. And that is just plain wrong. Yes, they should have received counselling, but they should not have had all those perks which most kids who don't go around killing toddlers don't have access to.

And although Thompson seems to be keeping a low profile, Venables was in the news last year for being an asshole.



ETA: I also see nell's point that he shouldn't necessarily face life in jail, but that should be decided when all the facts are known, and when he has been assessed etc. He shouldn't necessarily just have a juvenile sentence either.

The problem is if he is charged as an adult he will do life because he will be charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He will do some in juvenile and the rest in hard core prison when he turns 21. He isn't getting a slap on the wrist as the other poster pointed out, he will get 9 years WITH rehabilitation. Our system isn't set up like the one in the UK, at least I have never heard of anyone being treated like the complete assholes that tortured and killed Hames Bugler. Still pisses me off to this day how they were treated, that isn't rehabilitation, like you said that's summer camp!

Pretty much everyone knows my stand about charging children as adults. I know my daughter, she is almost 11, one year younger than this little boy. I know she knows if she shot me I would be hurt, I don't think she would realize I would be gone forever. When our dog died, she kept saying stuff like well why couldn't they save her, she just didn't realize sometimes people cannot be saved, she thinks only "old people" die. 12 is just way too young imo, if you are talking 16, 17 then you know that is whole nother ballgame for me. Kids around age 12 do not realize consequences like we do.

Also, @Mybabiesmomma I was the same exact way. I would be so mad at my parents I would think I could just kill them! Never once did I think of what would happen to me if I ever did anything like that. Never once did I think oh, I will be arrested, put on trial, put in jail EVER.

According to science brains do not stop growing or learning until around 25 (if I am remembering correctly, I am 36, so that's why I forget things easily LOL) but most learning is up until age 5. That is kind of misleading, of course most learning is up until age 5, that's where children learn to talk, walk, read (in most cases), use logical thinking. So should we also try 5 year olds as adults? After all they have hearned logical thinking. I was reading about Indiana the other day and realized that up until a few years ago a child the age of 8 could still get the death penalty AGE 8!!! I am not sure if they have changed that but WTF!!!

Sorry this post is so long, this is one of missions that I am involved with and can talk about it forever.


Please disregard the life sentence and I have read @Athena 's post and have seen they have done away with life sentences for juveniles charged as adults.

[Aena]

I am likely going to be the unpopular view here. In my opinion, if you do an adult crime, you deserve adult time. Take into consideration if there was abuse, however, he attacked his siblings too. This is not someone I want back on there streets when they're 16.

I keep thinking of Jasmine Richardson in this case. No provocation at all, except that her family was trying to look out for her.

He would never get out when he is 16. The juvenile justice system (joke that it is now since it seems pretty much anyone, you know the juveniles this system was set up to help are being charged as adults) would hold him until he is 21. So according to the juvenile justice system adult age is 21.

[Aena]

I am lucky enough to have had a pretty great childhood. No abuse, no neglect, plenty of love. So I really can't say how abuse would affect the mind of a 12yr old kid. Maybe he was singled out for abuse, and so resented the younger sibs. We have seen it often enough on DD where one kid in the family is abused, starved, beaten etc while the others do ok. IF that was the case here, then.......? He may have been so resentful of the sibs that he wanted them gone too. This is speculation on my part, of course, as the whole story is yet to be told, so right now it's 'maybe this and maybe that'. He could just be the plain evil spawn of satan.

I had an awesome childhood. When I was 12,13, my mom wouldn't let me go to the mall by myself so the whole I hate her syndrome came in. I could just kill her thoughts LOL yes over the mall. That is kind of my point, at that age something that is totally ridiculous to us seems life ending to kids that age. It is a lot harder for them to control their anger and impulses also. That's why I have a huge problem charging children as adults.

I do totally agree with you about Venables and I can never remember the other ones name. But our system isn't like that, we have hardened criminals, yes even in the juvenile system, it isn't Romper Room like it is in the UK.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

A 12-year-old boy accused of killing his parents and gravely wounding two siblings will spend seven years in juvenile detention, but will avoid adult charges in the case.

The announcement was made during a news conference this morning by 13th District Attorney Bob Watson and Daniel King, the chief trial deputy for the Colorado Public Defender's Office.

"There has to be some type of middle ground in this case," Watson said. "In making this decision I told my office I would not make the deal until I have all the information. "

At the same time, Watson acknowledged that a majority of the boy's family wanted to see him face adult sanctions, including the possibility of life in prison.

In considering a transfer to adult court, Watson was required to consider several factors including the seriousness of the crime, the mental health and maturity level of the juvenile the best interest of the juvenile and the safety of the community.
[...]

The two younger siblings have since recovered from their injuries and are living with their uncle in Missouri.

The boy's disposition hearing is set for Sept. 28.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18763779

[carolinablue]

I'm glad to hear that. I don't suppose any information on his motive has been given, and I'm not going to speculate. I hope in kid jail he will receive and accept treatment and be given good educational opportunities.

[AngelFire]

I have to say that I agree with the sentence. However, I would have thrown in some long term mental health check ups, or something similar.

I know this is not a popular opinion, but I feel sort of sadness for this kid. Part of his family wanted him gone, and wanted to throw away the key. I also understand their emotions... I just start thinking of what his life will be now that most of his relatives have turned away from him...What will be of him and his siblings when they are adults? Wonder if they would foster a relationship with their brother after what has happened. So sad all around, for the parents, the siblings, this kid and all involved...just so damn tragic

[Dakota Valkyrie]

A judge on Wednesday sentenced a child accused of killing his parents and attacking two of his siblings to seven to nine years in custody.

The boy, 13, was 12 years old at the time of the attacks in his hometown of Burlington.

The bodies of Charles and Marilyn Long were found March 1 after 911 dispatchers received a call from the boy about the shooting. They both had been shot with a .357 Magnum.

Prosecutors said the boy had also stabbed his 5-year-old sister in the neck and shot and stabbed his 9-year-old brother.
[...]

Under the plea deal, the boy will spend at least five years in a juvenile detention center. If the boy doesn't take his rehabilitation seriously in the youth corrections program, Watson said managers there could send him to state prison for his final two years, once he turns 18.

Also, if corrections officials don't feel the boy is ready to re-enter society after his seven-year sentence, at the age of 20, they could ask a judge to add another two years to his stay, Watson said, bringing the total number of years possibly served under this deal to nine.

"This was not an easy decision, nor is it one that I'm entirely happy with. But unfortunately, the current status of Colorado law forces us to choose between either an unacceptably light juvenile sentence or an unnecessarily harsh lifetime sentence," Watson said.

"The nature of the assault in this case is practically unheard of in the history of criminology. It is extraordinarily rare for a child to kill both parents and also to attack younger siblings in the same event," Watson said.
[...]

The boy's aunt told 7NEWS that she's disappointed he was not tried as an adult.

"He killed my brother. He should spend the rest of his life in prison," said Debra Long. "I don't think he should ever get out. He doesn't deserve to be out. And I don't believe that the rest of the family or society will be safe when he does get out."

She said the boy is mentally competent and she never saw anything bad at the home that would prompt him to kill both parents.

Michelle Funderburg, a cousin, also wanted to see the boy tried in adult court.

"I think it's appalling that our justice system would allow a killer back into society in seven years," Funderburg said. "I think it's putting everyone at risk."
[...]

"I am disappointed with this decision," said Wally Long, the boy's uncle, in a statement. "I am saddened that the murder of Charles and Marilyn and the brutal assault on two little children will result in only a few years in prison. I feel betrayed. Not by Bob Watson or Brittany Lewton. Not by the team of attorneys representing my nephew. I feel betrayed by the system."
[...]

"The case involves a 12-year-old boy with absolutely no criminal history. We had to consider the maturity level of the child and his mental development," Watson said.

This was a bit more complicated because the boy was home-schooled and as a result, there are no school records, no medical records and no psychology reports, Watson said.

Watson also consulted with Dr. Kathleen Heidi, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida, who specializes in juveniles who commit homicides and juveniles who kill their parents.

Heidi spent 8.5 hours with the boy, interviewed family members, toured the juvenile detention facility and reviewed treatment options for the boy, Watson said.

The defense team consulted with Dr. Terri Finney, who conducted standard psychological tests on the boy.

The defense and the prosecution agreed to share the results of both doctors' assessments, which is unusual, Watson said.
[...]

Prosecutors said the boy stabbed his 5-year-old sister in the neck and shot and stabbed his 9-year-old brother.

Both children are out of the hospital and living out of state with family members.

"They seem to be, physically, doing pretty well," Watson said.

Long also clarified the statement from the prosecutor about the medical records issue.

He said, to his knowledge, none of the three youngest children in that Burlington home had ever seen a family doctor.

"I can't even speculate as to why," Long said. "But I know that if they'd had a really serious illness, (Charles) would've taken them to the doctor."
[...]

Family members and friends said there were no red flags before the murders, no signs of abuse in the home and no indications the boy was troubled.

A 25-year-old brother said he was at his parents' home just 10 minutes before their deaths and the kids were running around and "everybody was having a good time."
[...]

He said the boy volunteered at the church and worked as a greeter during Sunday services.

Charles and Marilyn Long, both in their early 50s, had seven children. Four are grown and no longer lived at the home. Marilyn Long home-schooled her children and ran the children's ministry at the local Evangelical Free Church close to their home. Her husband served as a church elder and was a delivery driver for Frito Lay.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...63/detail.html

[Bohring]

I don't know how I feel about this. Seven years seems too short, LIFE is too long.

I fully understood death was permanent when I was twelve. I understood that killing was wrong and that I could go to jail for it. If this kid was homeschooled and all involved with church, possibly he was very sheltered and didn't have the same understandings. Possibly he was like, OMG, get me the FUCK out of this house! Can't I PLEASE go to the movies, or the park, or for a walk?! And he just snapped. This makes logical sense to me.

But there are two weapons, a gun and a knife or something you can use to be all stabby. And he's stabbing his five year old sister in the neck? He shoots his parents, the other boy tries to stop him, he shoots the interferring brother, now he's out of bullets, so he grabs a knife/sword/letter opener and continues the assault? Now there's a five year old girl, more than likely crying and trying to hide, and he goes after her? Methinks this kid ain't right in the head. Especially since the older brother was there ten minutes beforehand and said that everything was fine. How do you go from all that happy to a freaking massacre?

Either there is something more going on, or this kid is a freaking nut.

I hope I'm wrong, and that his siblings are well loved, well taken care of, and come come out of this with their mental stability intact. I hope the kid has a long time to think and uses his time in jail wisely, and comes out good on the other side.

We all know how much I love a Mary Poppins ending.

[cubby]

The fact that the children had never seen a doctor is really strange to me. We didn't take our children to the doctor much, they have been really healthy, but after baby checkups and such, they did go at least once or twice a year. there may be something lurking there, somewhere, that maybe the parents didn't want anybody to know about their children. I don't know, I'm just trying to think of somethng to explain why this little boy could have done something so horrible.

I have never felt that my boys hated me enough to hurt me much less kill me, even when we were fighting about their behavior, or school work, or friends, or just whatever. I just can't think what could be so bad if they weren't abusing him in some way. I just need to believe that something was going on that nobody knows about and the police aren't telling just yet.