# 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:** 5
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/81 "2013-04-22T13:40:39Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > 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) Oh bullshit. I suggested that the reason there was no footage of him buying guns was because he never tried to buy guns. I asked you for a link from a reputable source where it was stated that he tried to buy guns, you couldn’t do it. I don’t know why there’s no footage of him at the school. No cameras? Cameras not pointed at the right spot? Plenty of perfectly rational reasons other than “he wasn’t really there”. Time to buy an “R”. ---
**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, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/82 "2013-04-22T14:03:06Z")
> [@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 doesn’t matter what the CNN, CBS News, etc. video reports say, you’ve been shown here in this thread that Lanza did not fall off the grid. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/83 "2013-04-22T14:33:13Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > Time to buy an “R”. I’m pretty sure this is an insult, and you can’t do that in this forum. And **Tollhouse** , if you want this thread to continue, you need to explain what you think and why you think it. You’re insisting on a couple of debatable facts but haven’t explained why they would be significant even if they are true. Please do so. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/84 "2013-04-22T14:50:54Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > 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. You are grossly overestimating the difficulty of intentionally destroying a hard drive and the FBI’s ability to recover the data. The fact Lanza was a “skinny ass” has no bearing on whether or not he could damaged the drives, as very little physical strength is required. Watch the video below: https://www.youtube.com/embed/PdBNJags1K8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque See? No super strength or special tools required. And here is an article that has some info from data recovery experts on why the recovery is difficult: [http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9234814/FBI\_hopes\_hard\_drive\_will\_shine\_light\_on\_Conn.\_shooter\_s\_motive](http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9234814/FBI_hopes_hard_drive_will_shine_light_on_Conn._shooter_s_motive) ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/85 "2013-04-22T15:25:58Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > so far, all thats been offered are some jokes about Tony danza, (totally different situation, apples and oranges…the fact that Danza has not been appearing in shows in x amount of time does not equal somebody who has no footprint, no records, etc. Just because danza doesnt appear in shows is not the same as. “nobody, nowhere, has seen Danza alive in three years” I would NEVER joke about Tony Danza. I demand an apology or it’s swords at dawn! ---
**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, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/86 "2013-04-22T15:36:46Z")
Hmm. Adam Lanza, Tony Danza. And _Who’s The Boss?_ was set in Westport, not far from Newtown. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/87 "2013-04-22T15:45:49Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > 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. I don’t know anything about Lanza’s hard drives, but you could carefully remove my hard drive from my computer and deliver it in a velvet box to the FBI, and they wouldn’t be able to get anything off of it. That’s because it’s encrypted, which is super-easy to do. ---
**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, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/88 "2013-04-22T15:48:26Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I don’t know anything about Lanza’s hard drives, but you could carefully remove my hard drive from my computer and deliver it in a velvet box to the FBI, and they wouldn’t be able to get anything off of it. That’s because it’s encrypted, which is super-easy to do. Likely using an approved encryption system the NSA can trapdoor in five minutes. Might want to delete all that nuclear IED kiddie porn. ---
**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, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/89 "2013-04-22T16:42:58Z")
Adam Lanza was into kiddie porn! Who’d a thunk it? The government – obviously that’s who put him up to it. ---
**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, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/90 "2013-04-22T16:55:20Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > Oh bullshit. I suggested that the reason there was no footage of him buying guns was because he never tried to buy guns. I asked you for a link from a reputable source where it was stated that he tried to buy guns, you couldn’t do it. > > I don’t know why there’s no footage of him at the school. No cameras? Cameras not pointed at the right spot? Plenty of perfectly rational reasons other than “he wasn’t really there”. > > Time to buy an “R”. Your post raised the question to me was it possible the reason he was not seen on footage there because news reports were wrong and he had not been there. Usa today, Nbc news, ktla, and many others reported that he had recently attempted to buy guns at Dicks sporting goods and was denied. No footage. Why does every newsstory show footage over and over, what is so special about Lanza? I know, I know, apparently everywhere he goes it must be a “bad camera angle” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/91 "2013-04-22T16:58:38Z")
Maybe Newtown, Connecticut, pop. 27,560, isn’t covered in security cameras? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/92 "2013-04-22T17:01:41Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You’re insisting on a couple of debatable facts but haven’t explained why they would be significant even if they are true. Please do so. > [@Tollhouse](#): > > Usa today, Nbc news, ktla, and many others reported that he had recently attempted to buy guns at Dicks sporting goods and was denied. No footage. Why does every newsstory show footage over and over, what is so special about Lanza? Cut the bullshit. What, exactly, is your specific, explicit point? ---
**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, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/93 "2013-04-22T17:03:20Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Your post raised the question to me was it possible the reason he was not seen on footage there because news reports were wrong and he had not been there. > > Usa today, Nbc news, ktla, and many others reported that he had recently attempted to buy guns at Dicks sporting goods and was denied. No footage. Why does every newsstory show footage over and over, what is so special about Lanza? I know, I know, apparently everywhere he goes it must be a “bad camera angle” Can you cite these sources that said he tried to buy guns? Perhaps you meant this [NBC cite](http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15926718-newtown-gunman-forced-his-way-into-school-police-say?li), emphasis added: > [@](#): > > Officials also told NBC News that Lanza unsuccessfully tried to buy a rifle at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Danbury three days before the slaughter, but later said they could not confirm the report, which was based on information from members of the public. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/94 "2013-04-22T17:08:09Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Your post raised the question to me was it possible the reason he was not seen on footage there because news reports were wrong and he had not been there. > > Usa today, Nbc news, ktla, and many others reported that he had recently attempted to buy guns at Dicks sporting goods and was denied. No footage. Why does every newsstory show footage over and over, what is so special about Lanza? I know, I know, apparently everywhere he goes it must be a “bad camera angle” Please explain your opinion and why you believe this is relevant. There were reports in December that he tried to buy a gun, but I don’t think they panned out. There’s no reference to the story in Wikipedia or reporting more recent than December. If the story were true there could be several different reasons the security camera footage was not broadcast: for example it might not have been available to the press, or might simply have had no news value. It seems it doesn’t exist at all. Since nobody contends Lanza used those guns in his rampage anyway - he took them from his mother’s house - I don’t see why it matters. So please explain how this fits into your broader view of the crime. ---
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/95 "2013-04-22T17:08:59Z")
Or maybe you meant [this USA Today story:](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/28/newtown-search-warrants-released/2027639/) > [@](#): > > The guns Lanza used were apparently purchased by Nancy Lanza, he said. Despite news reports that Adam Lanza had tried to buy at least one gun before the rampage, there is no indication that he attempted a purchase and was denied, Sedensky said. Again, emphasis added. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/96 "2013-04-22T17:16:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > So please explain how this fits into your broader view of the crime. Heck, it’d be nicer to simply _read_ his ‘broader view’ of the crime. It obviously isn’t “Adam Lanza was the perpetrator and just happened to be a lunatic shut-in before he went postal.” So… what is it? MIB’s, lizard people, the Illuminati, the Jewluminati? This is shaping up to be an annoying rather than an entertaining CT thread. ---
**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, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/97 "2013-04-22T17:30:01Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Maybe Newtown, Connecticut, pop. 27,560, isn’t covered in security cameras? N/A… The school had installed a excellent camera security system placed at entrance and office, so that any approaching or entering would be on video footage. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/98 "2013-04-22T17:32:18Z")
So, is it that you’re simply not reading the posts/mod instructions that point out the errors, gaps and failures of your position? ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/99 "2013-04-22T17:33:53Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > N/A… > > The school had installed a excellent camera security system placed at entrance and office, so that any approaching or entering would be on video footage. There seem to be some questions about the school security cameras. I haven’t looked into it, but why don’t you concentrate on that factor, ask why the cameras weren’t on or didn’t pick up Lanza, if you can establish that was the case. Try to leave out the open questions with a conspiracy bent, just try to get some facts first. ---
**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, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315/100 "2013-04-22T17:37:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Please explain your opinion and why you believe this is relevant. There were reports in December that he tried to buy a gun, but I don’t think they panned out. There’s no reference to the story in Wikipedia or reporting more recent than December. If the story were true there could be several different reasons the security camera footage was not broadcast: for example it might not have been available to the press, or might simply have had no news value. It seems it doesn’t exist at all. Since nobody contends Lanza used those guns in his rampage anyway - he took them from his mother’s house - I don’t see why it matters. So please explain how this fits into your broader view of the crime. How is it relevant to show footage of the gunman at a gunstore attempting to buy a gun shortly before the shooting? Is that your question? the story was reported on, they stated law enforcement verified it..if you trust law enforcement. Any other suspect in any similar case is always shown ad nauseum over and over on footage. Why did we need to see Dorner over and over on footage at an atm? Why did we need to see the columbine shooters repeatedly on school footage within days of the event? and many more why is Lanza so special? Anywhere he goes happens to be a bad camera angle? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-adam-lanza-fall-off-the-grid-in-2009/656315.md?page=6)