# 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:** 4
**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, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/61 "2013-04-22T03:41:05Z")
Duke of rat, it was reported he had attempted to buy guns (my mistake about purchasing them) but we have never seen any footage of him inside said gun shop. It seems whenever any suspect is on any security footage,the media is sure to showbit over and over and over again. We saw the columbine shooters on school footage within a few days of the incident. We saw Dorner on footage at an atm over and over, etc . Im sure all gun shops have security cameras for good reason, yet we have not seen this. Or at the school. Seems like one of the first things tgey wouldve shown, over and over like columbine. It would also help put more momentum behind the gun debate. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/62 "2013-04-22T03:47:39Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > The journalists seemed at the time to indicate it was pretty unusual for the fbi not to have it by that point. Perhaps you can take from this thread the idea that what journalists indicate in their product is not always accurate information. There’s no reason for the FBI to rush this job right now, reading information on physically damaged disk drives is difficult and time consuming, and rushing the job could reduce the chances of finding whatever is there to look for. I think it’s just some sick fantasy stuff, or something even lamer, but there must be some reason Lanza went to all the trouble of destroying the drives. ETA: He was nuts, so the reason may not make sense. They might only find he has the typical kind of porn found on a young man’s computer and he didn’t have a porn buddy to come clean up for him. ---
**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, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/63 "2013-04-22T03:53:05Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Duke of rat, it was reported he had attempted to buy guns (my mistake about purchasing them) but we have never seen any footage of him inside said gun shop. Is it possible that the reports of him attempting to purchase guns were false, and that’s why there’s no footage? It’s just an open question and all. ---
**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, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/64 "2013-04-22T03:58:51Z")
If its true the fbi was able to get info from computers from the wtc tragedy, then i dont think lanzas skinny ass with a screwdriver was able to wield more destruction to his hard drive than a couple of airplanes. It seems like it wouldve been kind of a cinch for them, if they were able to retrieve data from some computers from the wtc. Now that i scrutinize lanza, he is turning out to be a damm kick ass ninja smarter than the fbi, hoodini, and most expert shooter in the history of the u.s. People may some of them may say he was handicapped but shit, he actually is turning out to be some goddmmed superhuman genius who was able to do everything better than anyone. Shit. ---
**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, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/65 "2013-04-22T04:01:19Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Duke of rat, it was reported he had attempted to buy guns … Wait a second. I thought you were saying that there were no reports of anyone having any contact with him? But now you are saying that someone reported that he tried to buy guns from them? So you’ve given up on the he was never seen in years JAQ? Your oh-this-is-odd-meter is now reacting to the “strangeness” that the assumed security camera footage was not saved for months? (Most get overwritten at about 30 days btw, some less.) ---
**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, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/66 "2013-04-22T04:04:55Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > Is it possible that the reports of him attempting to purchase guns were false, and that’s why there’s no footage? > > It’s just an open question and all. well, hmm, all the media outlets reported that, he had attempted recent to the shootings to buy guns. But we have no footage. Then, what about the no footage from the school,? Does that also suggest he wasnt there either? ---
**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, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/67 "2013-04-22T04:07:10Z")
Amazingly there were many _papers_ that survived the WTT attack and were readable. Even some that were burnt were still readable. This is really the best you got? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/68 "2013-04-22T04:12:27Z")
Plus, have you seen Lanza’s (former) haircut? ---
**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, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/69 "2013-04-22T04:13:08Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > well, hmm, all the media outlets reported that, he had attempted recent to the shootings to buy guns. But we have no footage. Then, what about the no footage from the school,? Does that also suggest he wasnt there > either? Don’t be so coy. Are you suggesting that Adam Lanza was not the Sandy Hook shooter? If so, the thread probably ought to be moved out of GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/70 "2013-04-22T04:19:37Z")
**Tollhouse:** I have lived in neighborhoods with fucked-up neighbor kids. Avoiding contact with them is as easy as tuning them out and putting my focus elsewhere. Anybody with no job, no debts and no monthly bills is technically “off the grid” and I have no compelling reason to think Adam Lanza is exceptional in this regard. There is no Grassy Knoll here. ---
**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, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/71 "2013-04-22T04:50:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Don’t be so coy. Are you suggesting that Adam Lanza was not the Sandy Hook shooter? If so, the thread probably ought to be moved out of GQ. actually, duke of rat was the one who suggested that perhaps the reason no footage of him at the gun shop means he may have never been there. Since there was no footage of him at the school either i asked duke if that could also be the same reason that he suggested (no footage, not there) ---
**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, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/72 "2013-04-22T05:14:08Z")
**Tollhouse** : Why are you so adamantly questioning everyone’s source material when you have not offered a singe cite for any of the claims you have made? Seriously, back up what you are saying with your sources. No one here is trying to trick you, but you either have really shitty sources or you misread them. We can’t judge that without seeing what they are. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/73 "2013-04-22T05:17:22Z")
Moved to Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/74 "2013-04-22T05:24:37Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > TNo known sightings of him even by close neighbors who did do interviews with media. Close neighbors said they never saw him, ever, …even shy kids have to go out sometime…never a doctor visit, never a haircut, never walked to his mailbox or went for a bike ride, never went outside period in three plus years? No picture or footage of him period? Not really. I have social anxiety. I’m an adult, and don’t live with/off parents. I have no one to hide me. Even so, If I chose not to do facebook/twitter and other online things, I could easily hide. Haircuts are pretty anonymous. I have some clippers. If my anxiety is particularly bad, I will just grow my hair until it gets annoying and then buzz it off. If not, I can go to a “Super Cuts” type place and get a different “stylist” each time. I use a fake name. I didn’t go to a doctor at all for over 9 years. I was never sick (physically). I had a lot of blood work done when I finally did go, and I was in pretty much “perfect” health by every objective diagnosis. I can think of few times in my whole life when I really needed to see a doctor, other than the visits that were mostly a sham to buy a note for school because they expect everyone with a cold to buy a doctor’s excuse. I don’t know any of my neighbors, except for ones I really had to go out of my way to know. I do most of my shopping online or via self-checkout at 24hour stores. I can check my mail, cut my grass, and every other outdoor chore when no one is around. I don’t make much of an effort to avoid people or be around people. If I wanted to, it would be very easy to increase avoidance, especially if I had someone else supporting me. ---
**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, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/75 "2013-04-22T05:33:21Z")
Now that we are in GD, just what is it that we are debating? ---
**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, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/76 "2013-04-22T05:34:57Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Now that we are in GD, just what is it that we are debating? Why did AL “fall off the grid” when he really didn’t fall off the grid? ---
**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, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/77 "2013-04-22T05:47:55Z")
Because Dan Holmes was a [del]landscaper[/del] plant. ---
**Author:** ![EverwonderWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EverwonderWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverwonderWhy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/78 "2013-04-22T06:01:08Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Im referring to mainstream media, not some obscure website. Cnn and the like reported he had basically not been seen or heard from since 2009. Yes, I would like some cites from “CNN and the like” that are “reporting Adam Lanza has no been seen or heard since 2009”. Considering he graduated highschool in 2010 (his yearbook picture left blank, captioned “camera shy”). He had a socialization/developmental disorder - he didn’t just fail to cultivate connections with people, he _actively_ avoided contact with people. People in this thread have posted links to statements made by Adam Lanza’s Dad who last saw him in June 2012 and his brother who last saw him in 2010. Your counter argument was that they didn’t appear on camera making these statements. Are you serious? People related to infamous criminals are more liky to change their name than appear publicly making statements. I haven’t noticed the mother or family of James Holmes making themselves available for a public appearance in the media. I would imagine that family relations of Adam Lanza are keeping a pretty low profile outside of cooperating with Law Enforcement and issuing a public statement expressing their condolences. You keep repeating “all” or “every” mainstream media sources are reporting your claims, but when I plug in “Adam Lanza not seen or heard from since 2009” or “video surveillance of Sandy Hook” or “video surveillance of Adam Lanza” into a google search it doesn’t link to any MSM source that supports your claims, just obscure conspiracy theory sites that pretty much repeat a lot of the unsubstantiated claims you’ve posted here. I don’t think think you are asking this question in good faith. What does google reveal to you when you search the very questions you have posted here? ---
**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, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/79 "2013-04-22T06:34:07Z")
everwonderwhy, I have to see if someone can help me put up the cnn cbs etc news videos reports… I really dont know how to do alot of stuff on computers…even here on the site, I havent been able to figure out how to post snippets of different posts to highlight in one post ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/80 "2013-04-22T06:57:42Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > everwonderwhy, > I have to see if someone can help me put up the cnn cbs etc news videos reports… I really dont know how to do alot of stuff on computers…even here on the site, I havent been able to figure out how to post snippets of different posts to highlight in one post It sounds like you need to read thru the FAQ section. 😉 On the little blue bar at the top of the screen, you will see ‘FAQ’. Read thru it, it will describe how to make posts on this message board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315.md?page=5)