I watched a very old episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" the other day. They were looking for a young New Jersey woman who had murdered her boyfriend in Arizona.
"June" was diagnosed schizophrenic in her late teens. She had been hospitalized in New Jersey and once she turned 18, she was free to do what she wanted. Her boyfriend had moved back to Arizona and he (believing all she needed was a "fresh" start) encouraged her to come live with him.
For a short time, things were good. She was seeing a doctor, therapist and taking her meds. Then, she began using illegal drugs. Her boyfriend was not there are nights to "watch" her because he was doing shift work. Her behavior became out of control and she was increasingly paranoid of everything. She accused her boyfriend of being against her and his family grew concerned when she would lash out violently towards him.
He was insistent that he could help her. He was wrong. Love isn't enough when you are dealing with a schizophrenic.
June killed him. She stole his truck and drove about 40 miles away and entered a small town where she acted suspiciously. She told people she was hiding from an abusive boyfriend but people sensed that it wasn't the truth.
Eventually, a concerned citizen called the police when she abandoned the stolen truck and disappeared.
The truck led them back to the boyfriend who they found dead on his couch from multiple stab wounds.
June was on the run but eventually she was found. This is where this story gets horribly disturbing.
She was sentenced to jail for the murder of her boyfriend (which she did not dispute). She served 15 years and was released. End of story.
She murdered someone and got 15 years. That in itself is disturbing that taking his life only got 15 years of punishment. The fact that she did not receive psychiatric counseling is very wrong. She has already been diagnosed schizophrenic.
So she gets out of jail, she is barely 40 years old and she is free to go on with her life without having to address her mental disorder? She killed once. She is a danger to society.
Thanks to laws that were changed to "protect" the rights of the mentally ill, a dangerous schizophrenic walks amongst us.
That is just wrong. June's boyfriend tried to help her. His love was not enough. For his good intentions, he wound up dead.
Mental illness sucks. It isn't fair but don't we have the right as citizens to know that people who have a disease that can make them a risk to our safety are being "taken care of"? We need to take another look at the ACLU and determine if protecting the rights of someone doesn't put the risk of the general public at risk as well.
This story about June was upsetting to me. I know someone who is schizophrenic. She denies that she is. She uses illegal drugs and seems content in her life. She has been "classified" mentally disabled by the state and does not hold a job. She spends her days partying, occasionally seeing a therapist and doctor to manage her meds. What many do not realize is that when you use drugs like marijuana, cocaine and others with your psychiatric medications, you are messing up the chemical balance in your body.
Not to mention the effects of illegal drugs on your mood and behavior.
How do we help schizophrenics? I don't know. Most schizophrenics deny they have a problem. Once they are over 18, they do not have to have help.
Not all schizophrenics are dangerous to others. The risk is there though and that needs to be better addressed.
"June" was diagnosed schizophrenic in her late teens. She had been hospitalized in New Jersey and once she turned 18, she was free to do what she wanted. Her boyfriend had moved back to Arizona and he (believing all she needed was a "fresh" start) encouraged her to come live with him.
For a short time, things were good. She was seeing a doctor, therapist and taking her meds. Then, she began using illegal drugs. Her boyfriend was not there are nights to "watch" her because he was doing shift work. Her behavior became out of control and she was increasingly paranoid of everything. She accused her boyfriend of being against her and his family grew concerned when she would lash out violently towards him.
He was insistent that he could help her. He was wrong. Love isn't enough when you are dealing with a schizophrenic.
June killed him. She stole his truck and drove about 40 miles away and entered a small town where she acted suspiciously. She told people she was hiding from an abusive boyfriend but people sensed that it wasn't the truth.
Eventually, a concerned citizen called the police when she abandoned the stolen truck and disappeared.
The truck led them back to the boyfriend who they found dead on his couch from multiple stab wounds.
June was on the run but eventually she was found. This is where this story gets horribly disturbing.
She was sentenced to jail for the murder of her boyfriend (which she did not dispute). She served 15 years and was released. End of story.
She murdered someone and got 15 years. That in itself is disturbing that taking his life only got 15 years of punishment. The fact that she did not receive psychiatric counseling is very wrong. She has already been diagnosed schizophrenic.
So she gets out of jail, she is barely 40 years old and she is free to go on with her life without having to address her mental disorder? She killed once. She is a danger to society.
Thanks to laws that were changed to "protect" the rights of the mentally ill, a dangerous schizophrenic walks amongst us.
That is just wrong. June's boyfriend tried to help her. His love was not enough. For his good intentions, he wound up dead.
Mental illness sucks. It isn't fair but don't we have the right as citizens to know that people who have a disease that can make them a risk to our safety are being "taken care of"? We need to take another look at the ACLU and determine if protecting the rights of someone doesn't put the risk of the general public at risk as well.
This story about June was upsetting to me. I know someone who is schizophrenic. She denies that she is. She uses illegal drugs and seems content in her life. She has been "classified" mentally disabled by the state and does not hold a job. She spends her days partying, occasionally seeing a therapist and doctor to manage her meds. What many do not realize is that when you use drugs like marijuana, cocaine and others with your psychiatric medications, you are messing up the chemical balance in your body.
Not to mention the effects of illegal drugs on your mood and behavior.
How do we help schizophrenics? I don't know. Most schizophrenics deny they have a problem. Once they are over 18, they do not have to have help.
Not all schizophrenics are dangerous to others. The risk is there though and that needs to be better addressed.
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