# Wannabe-necrophile teen runs down jogger **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 1, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018 "2003-06-01T23:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jack\_ss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c77e96/32.png) [@jack\_ss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_ss)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/1 "2003-06-01T23:04:53Z")
[This heartless fucker](http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030529/topstories/383097.html) tried to kill a woman so he could have sex with his corpse: > [@](#): > > A 16-year-old Great Falls boy “showed no remorse at all” when he told police he mowed down a female jogger with his Dodge Ram Charger so he could have sex with her corpse. > > Daniel Lee Robbins, 762 33rd B Ave. N.E., was charged Wednesday with attempted deliberate homicide. Patty Emanuel, 40, is listed in fair condition in the Benefis East ICU 24 hours after being struck from behind and dragged about 25 feet while she was running near the C.M. Russell High School tennis courts about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. I’m just speechless on this one. My mind boggles. I really can’t formulate any kind of response. I really hope they put this waste of resources out of his misery. I can’t in good conscious recommend that he be kept for life at taxpayers’ expense. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/2 "2003-06-01T23:07:53Z")
That is the most repulsive thing I’ve heard of in recent times. I really want that damn barfing smiley. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/3 "2003-06-01T23:09:12Z")
Sounds like some pretty serious emotional issues. The fact that he nonchalantly told the police of his intentions might indicate that he has no idea that this is so, so, so wrong… or that he doesn’t care that it is. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/4 "2003-06-01T23:57:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Sounds like some pretty serious emotional issues. The fact that he nonchalantly told the police of his intentions might indicate that he has no idea that this is so, so, so wrong… or that he doesn’t care that it is. ☹ \*\* The word you are groping for is “sociopath”. This man will kill again and again if he is ever released, IMHO. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/5 "2003-06-02T00:19:28Z")
It is things like this which make me look again at my belief in rehabilitation. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/6 "2003-06-02T00:24:24Z")
Well, I’m not a psychologist, so I didn’t want to diagnose out of turn. Sounds right, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/7 "2003-06-02T00:27:43Z")
You know, I get closer every year to just telling folks I’m from California, and giving up on Montana entirely. I grew up in Great Falls until I was 13. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/8 "2003-06-02T00:29:20Z")
Not that I condone or excuse this at all, but I was watching a show about canibalism. it said that people who eat or have sex with dead bodies have damage to their ‘frontal lobe’ (the bit that deals with behaviour, remorse, shock) They were talking about it as if the brain damage was a cause, but I wondered if in fact it is an _effect_ of their actions. In other words something else is the cause - causing the behaviour and the brain damage. like a lifestyle will cause the behaviour, and this in turn will cause the brain damage. Heck I don’t know. The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/9 "2003-06-02T01:12:41Z")
At least she’s okay. I will say that’s a good thing. But that’s the only good thing. This guy does sound like a classic sociopath. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/10 "2003-06-02T01:15:22Z")
The kid is almost certainly a sociopath – he did this with a passenger in the car, told him what he was going to do and why, and was probably surprised when the kid immediately told police where to find him. He did this the way other kids might target a pedestrian with a super-soaker. Let’s hope he’s isolated from the rest of humanity for the rest of his miserable little life. (adult-court-please-adult-court-please-adult-court-please-adult-court-please) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/11 "2003-06-02T04:46:00Z")
This is why we have prisons. Let’s hope he never gets out. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/12 "2003-06-02T04:59:03Z")
What do the parents think in such a case? I mean, were there warning signs? Did they so horribly abuse him to turn him into such a psycho? Does he have troubled siblings? How can a kid so young be so sexually deviant? ---
**Author:** ![ratty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@ratty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratty)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/13 "2003-06-02T05:50:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*They were talking about it as if the brain damage was a cause, but I wondered if in fact it is an _effect_ of their actions. In other words something else is the cause - causing the behaviour and the brain damage. like a lifestyle will cause the behaviour, and this in turn will cause the brain damage. Heck I don’t know. \*\* As far as “how the hell can anyone be _this_ fucked up?”, no one knows for sure. There are many theories out there in many fields, and none of them completely explain the whole range of human aberrant behavior. (Part of this problem no doubt stems from the fact that it’s damn hard to define what actually constitutes aberrant behavior, though I’d say this kid is spot-on.)Brain damage is always a popular theory, since it is an easily-observable phenomenon. I suspect it is also a popular theory because it more sharply defines “us” and “them”, far more so than solely behavioral theories. But the truth of the matter is that we just don’t know what makes some people so deeply and irreparably fucked-up. Re: rehabilitation, while I agree that for some people and some circumstances it may be possible, I also submit that there are some problems that just can never be fixed. If you’ve progressed to the point that by age 16 you are calmly and with deliberation mowing down a stranger with an automobile for the express and stated purpose of having sex with her corpse, then absolutely nothing, not therapy, not drugs, not institutionalization will ever make you a safe and reasonal human ever again. The only solutions in these cases are: 1) lock them up for the rest of their lives far, far away from any living things; or 2) kill them. I’m perfectly aware of how harsh this sounds, but I have no better ideas. I’d like to hear what other people think should be done in these situations: should people who are obviously insane be punished for what they’ve done? Or should we just try to keep them as far away from the rest of us as possible? Should we try to treat or even cure them? And if we succeed at the latter, should we trust them to re-enter society? Should we monitor them afterwards? My own feelings on this are somewhat confused. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/14 "2003-06-02T05:52:36Z")
\ Is it too late to renounce my species? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/15 "2003-06-02T06:52:04Z")
We don’t know. This kid could be a sociopath. Or he could have a growing tumor in his brain, or had a complete break with reality. Nothing about it makes any sense. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/16 "2003-06-02T07:05:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KCSuze \* > \ Is it too late to renounce my species? Far too early. He hasn’t applied for the promotion yet. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/17 "2003-06-02T07:06:31Z")
Words fail. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/18 "2003-06-02T07:15:30Z")
This kid is a total moron. Didn’t he realize that hitting her with the truck would probably damage her body way too much to easily have sex with? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/19 "2003-06-02T07:37:15Z")
Refresh my psychology definitions: Why’s he just a sociopath instead of a psychopath? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018/20 "2003-06-02T10:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*Refresh my psychology definitions: Why’s he just a sociopath instead of a psychopath? \*\* Two words for the same thing. Psychopath is passé, BTW: All the cool kids call them sociopaths right now. But that could change. [Sociopath](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sociopath&r=67) [Psychopath](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=psychopath&r=67) **ratty** : > [@](#): > > I’d like to hear what other people think should be done in these situations: should people who are obviously insane be punished for what they’ve done? Yes, as long as they know the difference between right and wrong. At the state’s option, however, punishment can be _supplemented_ with treatment. But that is _not_ a given. > [@](#): > > Or should we just try to keep them as far away from the rest of us as possible? This isn’t an `either-or’ proposition: If treatment is possible, the state will probably render treatment in addition to the punitive actions. If treatment is not possible, purely punitive actions will take place. At no time will the convict be in a position to commit another crime. Gulags are bad practice, but so is neglecting to oversee dangerous criminals. > [@](#): > > Should we try to treat or even cure them? Only if treatment is possible. Trying to `treat’ McVeigh or other politically-motivated killers isn’t fruitful, for example, because they were sane at the time of their crimes and have remained sane (at least until death). Charles Manson probably has recieved treatment, but I’ve not heard anything about it helping him, showing that we cannot cure every insane person who comes along. > [@](#): > > And if we succeed at the latter, should we trust them to re-enter society? Should we monitor them afterwards? What, you question the idea of parole? 😉 To pick up on a hypothetical, what if Manson was deemed mentally fit to enter society? Obviously, it’s been a while since he last breathed free air, so it would probably benefit both him and us for him to be released under certain terms. That’s why we have parole and halfway-houses and so forth. To air my own opinions, I think this person is a prime candidate for the death penalty. He has shown no remorse for his actions, but I think he knew the difference between right and wrong when he committed the crime. We have a low success rate with sociopaths (ref. Charles Manson, Ted Bundy), so there is little chance of him ever being fit to join society. He is a danger to himself and others, he is untreatable, and as imprisonment for life is hardly humane, the death penalty is the best option. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wannabe-necrophile-teen-runs-down-jogger/179018.md?page=2)