# Why did Adam Lanza fall off the grid in 2009? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 21, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315 "2013-04-21T16:07:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/41 "2013-04-21T23:55:54Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > John mace, well thank you for at least a mature response rather than junior high antics about tony danza and buttplugs and outerspace. Yes, i see that post now, but seriously? In the whole world of adam lanza, the only thing mentioned is a distant uncle. And even this uncle did not appear or speak for himself. We have his wife mention he saw him, but he himself does not speak for himself? In an interview with her, he is not there. So nobody but a distant uncle somewhere who never.actually appears on camera to state that, just a relative of a relative? In a matter of seconds I found out that the premise of your question was wrong. Here is another report, which discusses video of Lanza a few days before attack [Police: Shooter Had Altercation at School Day Before Rampage | 5newsonline.com](http://5newsonline.com/2012/12/15/police-shooter-had-altercation-at-school-day-before-rampage/) and a previous altercation at the school between Lanza and some teachers. Do you have any support for the (now discredited) claim that no one had seen him since 2009? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/42 "2013-04-21T23:56:47Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > John mace, well thank you for at least a mature response rather than junior high antics about tony danza and buttplugs and outerspace. Yes, i see that post now, but seriously? In the whole world of adam lanza, the only thing mentioned is a distant uncle. And even this uncle did not appear or speak for himself. We have his wife mention he saw him, but he himself does not speak for himself? In an interview with her, he is not there. So nobody but a distant uncle somewhere who never.actually appears on camera to state that, just a relative of a relative? Not sure why your calling him a “distant” uncle, and from the same link: > [@](#): > > Ryan Lanza has been helping police with their investigation and US media reported that he told them he had not seen his brother since 2010. So, that’s two people since 2009, not none. It’s also quite possible that people did he see but simply don’t remember. Do you remember everyone you’ve seen for the last year? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/43 "2013-04-21T23:57:59Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Where the fuck did this come from? OP had nothing to deserve this, nor was it trolling. Leo, read the thread. The OP is asking a nonsense question based on partial data and waving off all contrary cites. If he’s not heading towards some sort of conspiracy claim, his actions are pointless. If he is, he deserves derision. There is simply no mystery about Adam Lanza being publicly “invisible” after high school and a few inquiries by CNN do not make his nonexistence a fact. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/44 "2013-04-22T00:03:19Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Does this mean that **Amateur Barbarian** is implying that there are people who actually believed/still believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was a… a… robot? or mind-controlled? or… literally a ZOMBIE? For serious? Really? Clearly you haven’t participated in many JFK conspiracy threads. Yes, there are several factions who believe that LHO = Lee Harvey Oswald was some kind of mind-controlled zombie, plant, dupe, double, what have you. I am not saying he WAS a robot zombie, literally or figuratively. But I suspect the OP was aiming or thinking along those lines WRT Adam Lanza. If I’m wrong, I will eat my helping of crow… but notice he still hasn’t said anything about the POINT of his inquiry and he is still rejecting honest, sensible, cited answers. He seems determined to have CNN’s partial claim enshrined as concrete fact so that he can move on to… some point. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/45 "2013-04-22T00:08:01Z")
Tollhouse, I am not sure why this seems odd to you. This was not “a shy boy.” This was a person with _serious social dysfunction_. Whatever his actual problems were (emergent and then overt untreated schizophrenia?) he was labelled “Asperger” for a reason and by reports avoided social contact as much as possible, often decompensating in social situations at school. Once out of school and with an enabling parent, of course he would not go outside the house much. And when/if he did, why do you think anyone would remember seeing someone who they do not know well (or at all) outside? This was not someone who had relationships with barbers or conversations with store clerks. He did not stand out in a crowd. He avoided interaction. He was forgetable. He did not “fall off the grid.” He was never on any grid. While in school he was forced to have some interactions; done with school, he did not. Whatever further psychiatric decompensation occurred was only observable to his mother. You know … that one. It does seem like you are implying something neferious. Are you? If not then just state so. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/46 "2013-04-22T00:15:50Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > I’m a little confused. WTF does Pierce Brosnan have to do with Adam Lanza? Well, if you can think of a better example of “off the grid” than Pierce Brosnan’s post 2009 film career, I’d love to hear what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/47 "2013-04-22T00:34:24Z")
It is just an open question. Ive never.been a conspiracy person, and since the incident I havent really given it much thought until the last few days when I saw these cnn interviews stating how he has no records since 2009, no trail that can.be traced to him, so i thought its really odd he has no hard records, and then on top of it hasnt been seen.by the people who should have seen him at some point. Then no pictures or footage of him alive anywhere, even in the gun shop he bought guns at or any footage of him in front of or in the school? They always release footage like that, when columbine happened they released the video footage of those two boys at the school, but nothing released showing lanza? The school had installed a really good new security surveillance system. ? I am not sure why or what it could mean…but its a legitimate and very natural question. Even cnn said it was crazy there was no proof of his existence since several yrs ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/48 "2013-04-22T00:35:52Z")
Hmmm. “I’m Just Asking Questions. …” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/49 "2013-04-22T00:42:58Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > It is just an open question. Ive never.been a conspiracy person, and since the incident I havent really given it much thought until the last few days when I saw these cnn interviews stating how he has no records since 2009, no trail that can.be traced to him, so i thought its really odd he has no hard records, and then on top of it hasnt been seen.by the people who should have seen him at some point. Then no pictures or footage of him alive anywhere, even in the gun shop he bought guns at or any footage of him in front of or in the school? They always release footage like that, when columbine happened they released the video footage of those two boys at the school, but nothing released showing lanza? The school had installed a really good new security surveillance system. ? I am not sure why or what it could mean…but its a legitimate and very natural question. Even cnn said it was crazy there was no proof of his existence since several yrs More from the link in post 19: > [@](#): > > He had no Facebook page and his electronic footprint was minimal although yesterday the police chief seemed to suggest he may have left behind emails which could help explain his state of mind. Emphasis added. Also, he didn’t buy any guns. He used guns his mother bought. So far I’ve been defending you against those that are trying stir up shit, but it does seem like every time evidence is offered, you move the goalpost. At this point I would say that your questions have been answered and your original assumption was incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/50 "2013-04-22T00:52:08Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Where the fuck did this come from? OP had nothing to deserve this, nor was it trolling. > > If it’s a key rhetorical question in conspiracy theories, I was unaware of it. It is not like asking, say, “Why were so few Jews in the World Trade Center on 9/11.” If you want, answer and suggest that that might be a conspiracy-type question, or, if you really think the guy is a troll, ask why he asks. Or, if you sense you’ld be feeding him, say something to the thread. > > You certainly did not fight any ignorance, if that is the case. > > I’ve seen this before (and been the recipient), and do not like it, when an OP is ad-hominemed right off the bat, which shouldn’t occur in any event for a question or hypothetical, because the poster thinks somehow he can divine the OP’s real agenda. > [@rock\_party](#): > > There is a conspiracy tin foil group out there that has claimed Sandy Hook was an “inside job”. > Some extreme right wing gun toters are saying Obama had it done to have an excuse to begin > taking away there 2nd amendment rights. > The “havn’t seen him in years” meme plays right into this. A proper response for me, and something I didn’t know. I also got, however, that posts subsequent to people piled on to slam OP based on his later conspiracy cookies being crumbled—fair enough, and a conspiracy poster–if indeed he is-- in GQ deserves all he gets. But the sequence Post 1: one line OP non-insane question. Post 2: Query as to intention of question Post 3: answer to question Post 4: all guns blazing character assassination and OP dismissal with no reason is inappropriate. If you feel this topic deserves further discussion, start a thread in ATMB, which I will happily not read. > [@Tequila\_Party](#): > > I saw someone do the exact same thing yesterday to the OP of a thread about stockpiling ammunition in the southeast or something. It’s very frustrating. Wait…don’t tell me…I get it…you’re talking about me! Gosh I totally forgot that I had just posted in a thread where a similar situation had arisen! Damn, hoisted by my own fart! > [@](#): > > #1 > Yesterday, 03:36 AM > Troppus > Guest > > Join Date: Mar 2011 > Why are people in the southeast hoarding/stockpiling ammo? > Got stuck in an awkward conversation last night at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Ran into an old friend who is a police officer and while we were catching up, he and several other shoppers and two store employees began discussing rumors of where one could find ammo and how far one would have to travel to buy it. Apparently the shelves have been empty since Thanksgiving, and these people were bragging about their hoards. The employees were complaining about the stampede of customers on days the stock would arrive, and how the store, Walmart, and a couple other retailers were overrun with requests for more. What rumor, price hike, political agenda, or recent change in law is causing this obsession or scarcity of ammunition? > > #2 > Yesterday, 03:47 AM > Leo Bloom > Member > > Join Date: Jun 2009 > Posts: 4,324 > Panic buying, like buying 20 rolls of toilet paper before a severe snowstorm. > > I find it hard to believe, given OP, that you are not aware of, shall we say, discussion recently of law regarding civil ammunition. I also wonder about disingenuous questions. Exact same situation! Same long description of context of question in OP! My direct attack! One other thing: Next time you have something to say directly to me in an open thread, don’t be so cute. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/51 "2013-04-22T02:06:37Z")
John mace, cnn reported that he had a computer, but the Fbi hasnt been able to get anything at all from his computer. They said lanza somehow fixed it so even the fbi couldnt extract anything off it. Note:" may have" is not the same as “did have” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/52 "2013-04-22T02:19:41Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > John mace, cnn reported that he had a computer, but the Fbi hasnt been able to get anything at all from his computer. They said lanza somehow fixed it so even the fbi couldnt extract anything off it. Note:" may have" is not the same as “did have” Of course. Which is why you need to be a bit less definitive about what is out there. It would probably help if you cited these articles you are talking about. It’s hard to discuss something without actually seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/53 "2013-04-22T02:34:11Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > It is just an open question. Ive never.been a conspiracy person, …Then no pictures or footage of him alive anywhere, even in the gun shop he bought guns Where have you seen that he bought any guns? I’ve only heard that his mom bought the guns. If you have some links to reputable sources that claim Adam Lanza purchased guns, please link to them. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/54 "2013-04-22T02:34:48Z")
What do you think might be the reason, **Tollhouse**? You must have speculated to yourself about the possible reasons for Lanza’s “disappearance”, right? I’m curious as to what you may be driving at here. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/55 "2013-04-22T02:46:32Z")
[Back in Febuary:](http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Investigators-recover-Lanza-computer-data-4285235.php) > [@](#): > > Investigators have succeeded in recovering some data from one of the damaged hard drives in a computer used by Adam Lanza and have subpoenaed computers of people they believe were in contact with the Sandy Hook mass murderer, a law enforcement source said Friday. > Another smashed hard drive is still being reconstructed by technicians with the U.S. Department of Defense, the source said. … > > … Lanza attempted to destroy the computer hard drives either on the day of the shootings or shortly earlier. Apparently taking hard drives out and scratching them up with a screw driver as best you can and then hammering them them works pretty well, but even then some data is recoverable. Why does this seem so … mysterious … to you? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/56 "2013-04-22T02:56:45Z")
Because there is a gub’mnt conspiracy to be found. The greater the lack of evidence, the greater the cover-up. Questions must be asked to shine a light on the darkness. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/57 "2013-04-22T03:25:41Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Wait…don’t tell me…I get it…you’re talking about me! Gosh I totally forgot that I had just posted in a thread where a similar situation had arisen! Damn, hoisted by my own fart! Sympathies. I _hate_ when that happens! > [@](#): > > Exact same situation! Same long description of context of question in OP! My direct attack! I’m so glad we’re in agreement. Thanks. > [@](#): > > One other thing: Next time you have something to say directly to me in an open thread, don’t be so cute. That was pretty damned direct. If the shoe fits and all that. 🙂 And I can’t help being cute. Comes with the job. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/58 "2013-04-22T03:29:59Z")
Dseid, I concede i hadnt seen this article, . Is this a mainstream media source? Live coverage from abc and cnn stated in late December that the fbi had not been able to retrieve anything. I think a legitimate question to ask then would be how long does it usually take the fbi to retrieve data from a computer, even if its damaged? The journalists seemed at the time to indicate it was pretty unusual for the fbi not to have it by that point. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/59 "2013-04-22T03:33:17Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > It is just an open question. Ive never.been a conspiracy person,Then no pictures or footage of him alive anywhere, even in the gun shop he bought guns Where are some reputable links where it’s stated that Adam Lanza bought guns? It’s just an open question and all. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/60 "2013-04-22T03:37:06Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Dseid, I concede i hadnt seen this article, . Is this a mainstream media source? Assuming you’re referring to the [article](http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Investigators-recover-Lanza-computer-data-4285235.php) that **Dseid** linked to, it was published in the [Connecticut Post](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Post), a daily newspaper based in Bridgeport and owned by the Hearst Corporation. So yes, very much a mainstream media source. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315.md?page=4)