A teenager from Cedar Rapids committed a terrible act on October 14, 2021. He used two knives and an ax to k*ll his parents. His name is Ethan Orton. According to a psychologist, Orton stated that he had been subjected to emotional and verbal abu*e throughout his life by his parents, Misty Scott-Slade (41) and Casey Arthur Orton (42). The tragic incident occurred when his mother fell asleep in a chair, and his father was asleep on a sofa. The day before the attack, Orton received an email from his mother stating that he had to leave the house when he turned 18, which was in five months. This email pushed him to carry out the attack.
Read more: Parents to*tured 11-year-old to d*ath, burned body, dumped it in storm drain
As a result of his actions, Orton has been given a life sentence. However, he will have to serve a mandatory minimum of 50 years in prison before being considered eligible for parole.
During the sentencing recommendation , Assistant Linn County Attorney Mike Harris highlighted the disturbing details of Ethan Orton’s attack. It was described as a “heinous” act. Orton began by st*bbing his mother with a knife similar to a bowie knife, and then turned his attention to his father. However, when his mother did not succumb to her injuries and managed to walk into the kitchen, Orton seized another knife, st*bbed her again, and then switched to using an ax. The sequence of events paints a disturbing picture of the violence perpetrated by Orton.
Read more: Arizona mom pleads guilty to child’s d*ath by starving him after locking him in a closet
The judge, Ian Thornhill, thought about important things when deciding on the sentence for a young person who committed a serious crime. In Iowa, the supreme court decided in 2016 that young people can’t be sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole. This decision was made after the supreme court in the United States made the same rule in 2012.
Thornhill gave Orton two life sentences, but he said that Orton could serve them at the same time. The judge also said that a mandatory minimum of 50 years in prison isn’t the same as a life sentence because Orton could be eligible for parole when he is 67 years old, which is when many people retire. Thornhill also considered the details of the crime. It was very violent and planned, not something that happened suddenly. Orton chose the weapons he used and attacked his parents while they were sleeping, which shows that he was thinking clearly at the time.
Thornhill mentioned that a psychologist talked about some unpleasant things in Orton’s home life during the sentencing. However, the judge said that even though teenagers might not like what their parents do, it doesn’t mean it reaches the level of abu*e.
Thornhill mentioned that there is no such thing as perfect parenting, but there was no proof of any sexual or physical abu*e in Orton’s case.
During the sentencing, Orton expressed his feelings in a way that was sometimes confusing. He mentioned that the “experience” had taught him to “learn better.” He also appreciated that his sister and grandmother forgave him right away. He said they had evidence of some of the things he witnessed and went through, but he couldn’t communicate with them at that time.
They did not attend the court session , but a number of relatives from his mother’s side were present to offer their support. Orton expressed disbelief that an event like this could ever occur, feeling it was unjust considering his young age of 19 compared to the older individuals involved.
He expressed deep remorse for the situation and stated that he would do anything to bring his parents back, even sacrificing his own well-being. According to his relatives, they believed his parents could have been rehabilitated, as per Orton’s account.
Gratefully, he acknowledged Jesus, asserting that his faith was not merely a product of being in jail but had genuinely provided him with a sense of solace that he hadn’t experienced in the past 17 years. After speaking in court, he wiped away tears from his eyes.
During the proceedings, Tracy Thomas, a forensic psychologist from Ames, highlighted an email from Misty Scott-Slade dated October 13, 2021, along with Orton’s father initially siding with him and then shifting his allegiance to his wife. Thomas attributed these events to Orton experiencing a mental breakdown due to a lack of support or protection from anyone.
According to Thomas’s testimony, he described his household as “chaotic,” with emotionally abusive parents. It appeared that his parents placed blame on him for their marital problems. Despite this, Thomas attempted to avoid upsetting them, fearing their anger and criticism.
Thomas also mentioned that Orton confided in him about attempting suicide at the age of 11 by consuming a small amount of bleach. While in jail, Orton tried to harm himself by stuffing socks in his mouth, but was stopped by jail employees.
Furthermore, Thomas revealed that Orton had a limited number of friends, with only a few individuals, including two teachers, coming to mind. Orton relied on connections made through a computer app, considering them his lifeline, despite not being well-acquainted with these individuals.
During the evaluation and testing conducted by Daniel Tranel, a professor of psychology and neurology at the University of Iowa, Orton was found to possess average intelligence without any cognitive impairments. Tranel also noted that Orton displayed normal maturity and was not diagnosed with any mental disorders. Orton himself described himself as a shy and quiet individual, referred to as “a good kid” by Tranel.
Tranel expressed uncertainty regarding whether the bleach incident was a genuine su*cide attempt or if Orton was seeking attention.
During Tranel’s evaluation, he observed that Orton exhibited adequate planning, judgment, and decision-making abilities. Orton displayed minimal levels of depression and anxiety, but Tranel noted a slight increase in paranoia. Based on these findings, Tranel concluded that Orton demonstrated normal functioning and did not meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis.
0 Post a Comment: