Do Not Cross

Ok, ok, status updates:

1. I graduate this Saturday.

Yup, that is right. After two years of classes learning about fingerprints, firearms, DNA, autopsies, homicides, crime scenes, and the like, I will be getting my Master of Forensic Science degree from The George Washington University. I’m feeling a tad ambivalent about it though. On one hand I’m extremely happy that I’m done with school (for probably the rest of my life). On the other hand, I’m wondering what I’m going to do with myself. I won’t have classes, homework, a job, and a life to juggle. I’m fearful that I’m going to be bored. But I have lots of hobbies I want to pursue (like my photography, guitar, and violin). Maybe I’ll actually keep updating my blog consistently (what a concept!).

2. No Remicade for Me.

I visited my GI doctor last month and he decided that it isn’t the right time for me to go on Remicade (more about Remicade here). He felt that my symptoms weren’t severe enough to warrant me going on such an extreme treatment method. Instead, he upped my 6-MP dosage. Hopefully this will slowly heal my fistula. Since the visit the pain and discomfort from my fistula has dropped a lot. I’m going to set up a visit with my colon and rectal surgeon for next month to see how it is doing and hopefully see if the drain that is set in there can be removed.

3. Flickr and Twitter Updates

I have seriously become uber-addicted to Twitter lately. I’m updating at least once a day (if not more than that sometimes). I’ve also set it up so that I can update it via SMS text messaging through my cell phone. Since I don’t have an unlimited text messaging plan with my phone company (T-Mobile), I am trying to keep myself from updating via SMS only when I’m not within reach of internet access (which is pretty rare).

I’ve also updated my flickr with a bunch of pictures. Some are from my friend Larry’s wedding and some are from Cheri’s friend Melissa’s wedding. There are also a bunch of random other images as well. Here’s one of my favorite photos from this last batch, our friend Kate (left) with Cheri (right) getting ready for Larry’s wedding:

This past week was my first week at my new job. I’d rather not go into details, but I will say that I love my new job. The people are great, the atmosphere is very laid back, and I’m loving what I’m doing. Even my commute isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. My entire commute is in the opposite direction of the rush, so that makes it very easy to do.

This upcoming week I begin my last semester at The George Washington University. I’m excited to be finished with this program. I’ve been in school for seven years now and I’m ready to be done for good. As of now, I have no desire to get a PhD in anything, so I’m pretty sure I’m done for a long time. Who knows, maybe in the future I’ll pursue some sort of forensic science PhD, but for now, I’m happy working and gaining experience.

This semester, I’m taking three courses. I’ll be taking Firearms and Toolmark Examination, Trace Evidence Analysis, and Moot Court. Out of all of these, I’m most excited to be taking the firearms course. I don’t know anything about guns and I’ve been eager to learn about how they can be forensically analyzed.

Well this semester is winding down. I only have one more class meeting before finals start. So basically, I’ve got three things left to do for this semester.

1. Write my Homicide Investigation term paper.
2. Take my Forensic Pathology final.
3. Take my Homicide Investigation final.

I’m writing my term paper on Ed Gein, the man that inspired the killers in the films Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs. He was a pretty messed up guy. He was obsessed with his mother, killed 2 people, dug up the graves of recently deceased women, and made a body suit out of their skin. Like I said: messed up.

I’m looking forward to this semester being done with. I want to move onto the summer semester. I’m taking two courses this summer. I’ll be taking Crime Scene Investigation I, and then I’ll be taking Medicolegal Death Investigation. Both courses should be a blast.

As a part of my Homicide Investigation class at George Washington University, my instructor has asked us to write a brief analysis of the killings that occurred at Virginia Tech on Monday. Even though I am only a student and haven’t had the experience, statistically speaking, there are many things that are common when this type of crime occurs. I am in no way stating that any of the following is fact, it is just my interpretation of the events as based on my knowledge gained in my Homicide Investigation course.

* * *

It appears that the offender’s motivation for the first shooting is domestic. There have been much speculation as to the offender’s relationship with the female victim. Some feel that they may have been in a relationship or that Cho had feelings for the female victim. It is possible that his motivation to kill her was caused by Cho’s apparent hatred for “spoiled, rich kids.” Is it possible that Cho had feelings for the female and was rejected? Thus taking his hatred out on her? Based on the fact that Cho walked across campus (at least half a mile) to Norris Hall to commit his crimes shows he had been planning this. The killings at Norris were not spontaneous at all.

Cho wanted to destroy what symbolized the high class that he felt such disdain for. Since he associated many, if not all, students at Virginia Tech as being in this class, he felt that everyone encountered could potentially be his victims.

This murder seems most likely to be an authority murder. The perceived authority being the higher class. If Cho grew up in a middle or lower income family, then this could explain his problem with the higher class. Northern Virginia can have very large gaps in the income levels among families. Cho probably felt this gap during his time in school in Northern Virginia and this is what probably helped escalate his hatred.

But the question remains of who was his primary target? Was it the first two victims? Or was his primary target someone in Norris Hall? Usually in an authority killing, the killing ends once the primary target is killed. Did Cho find his primary target in Norris Hall, then end his life?

Weapon stockpiling and verbalization of hatred towards a particular authority is also common in this type of murder. It seems that Cho did both of these things by purchasing two semiautomatic handguns and writing disturbing poetry and plays in his creative writing classes.

Cho probably had a history of mental illness, including isolation, paranoid behavior, etc. Cho’s post offensive behavior did not seem to change at all. Especially since he shot two people, and calmly went back to his own dorm, then walked across campus to execute another batch of killings. Cho’s history of being isolated and calm continues to his post-offensive behavior. This is probably why nothing was suspected of his behavior in between the two shooting incidents.