What would you do if your son is a criminal and violent?

[tinydancer]

Here's the situation. A young man stabs two of his sisters to death, decapitating one of them in front of police. Now the police took him out on the spot, shooting this rampaging maniac several times.

When I started to read the comments at the bottom of the story, people were blaming the parents for this atrocity because they weren't in the home during the rampage. Now I don't blame them for that, the mom is nurse and maybe both parents had to work.

But I wonder how you as a parent, knowing full well that your son has a history of violence could keep your son out of your home to protect your other children?

And how could you keep him away? How many times have restraining orders failed?

Here's the story, and yikes, it's hair raising.


Massachusetts man killed sisters on 5-year-old's birthday


Sun Mar 29, 2:59 PM


By Glen Johnson, The Associated Press


MILTON, Mass. - A man on a rampage fatally stabbed his 17-year-old sister, decapitated his five-year-old sister in front of a police officer and then headed toward his nine-year-old sister before officers shot him amid what their chief described as "a killing field."


There is no clear motive yet for the events that unfolded about 5 p.m. Saturday in this tony Boston suburb that is also home to Gov. Deval Patrick. But there is no doubt at the carnage wrought by 23-year-old Kerby Revelus against his three sisters in the two-family home they shared with their parents and grandmother.


Bianca was killed as a cake for her fifth birthday sat on the kitchen table. Sarafina, 9, dialled 911 and watched police shoot her brother as her elder sister, Samantha, lay dead on the floor.


Sarafina was hospitalized Sunday at the Boston Medical Center with defensive wounds to her hands and stab wounds in her abdomen and one of her legs.


"In policing, we see the raw human emotion every day, but to think that a human being could afflict such an atrocious, violent act on his own family is unbelievable," Milton police Chief Richard G. Wells Jr. told The Associated Press.


"When I walked up to the first officer (on the scene), I could see the whole story right in his face. This just told me that this was something very bad," Wells said.


Kerby Revelus had recently served jail time on a gun charge, Wells said, but the details would not be released until courts opened Monday. Police had been called to the same house in 2004 after a domestic violence report of Revelus allegedly punching one of the women living in the home, Wells said.


Saturday's attack came about 24 hours after Revelus had gotten into a fistfight with a man living next door, Wells said.


"Blows were exchanged," he said. "I don't know the cause of it, but we're confident that did happen. He had been agitated in the hours that followed that, going into the day and last night."


Investigators believe that Revelus targeted Samantha, a 17-year-old senior at Milton High School, and fatally stabbed her with a household knife while their grandmother was doing laundry in the basement. At the time, the children's parents were away; their mother is a nurse at a Boston hospital, Wells said.


Her identity, as well as that of the father, were not immediately available.


Sarafina, an elementary school student, called 911 just before 5 p.m. An officer on patrol in the neighbourhood arrived within a minute, Wells said, and could hear an altercation inside as he reached the second floor. The 911 operator tried to persuade Sarafina to open the door, but when she did not, the officer broke through.


"As the officer entered the door, he decapitated (Bianca) in front of him," said Wells. "He actually walked into a killing field. He walked into such carnage, as far as the atrocity of it, I've never seen it."


Within moments, four officers were inside and two of them shot Revelus as he tried to get to Sarafina, Wells said. He fell still clutching the knife.


Rest of the story at the link:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090329/world/birthday_killings

[LouC]

He would have been out on his butt at 18.

He never should have been allowed to live there.

Sadly though families too often don't learn that lesson until it is too late.

Kerby Revelus had been in trouble before, but his criminal record does not show anything close to the level of brutal violence he unleashed on his sisters on Saturday.

In September 2004, he was charged with assault and battery after another sister, Jessica Revelus, then 17, called police and said her brother, then 19, had punched her in the face during an argument over a phone bill.

Kerby Revelus admitted he punched his sister, and told police he was upset with her because she owed him some money, according to a Milton police report.

Jessica Revelus declined medical attention and told police she did not want to get a restraining order against her brother.

"Ms. Revelus told me that she was not in fear of her brother and had no wish to pursue the matter," the arresting officer wrote in the report.

Jessica Revelus told the Boston Herald that her brother had done two stints in jail.

He was arrested for assault and battery in August 2004 after he was involved in a fight with several other teenagers.

Then in December 2005, he was charged with carrying a firearm without a license after he tried to buy alcohol at a liquor store in Randolph.

A store clerk called police when he saw a pistol magazine in Revelus' pocket, and police later found the magazine and a handgun in Revelus' waist band.

He was sentenced to serve six months in jail, and was released in September 2008.

LINK (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090330/ap_on_re_us/sisters_slain_3)

[Cav Scout]

It is a cold hard answer.

[sgtmac_46]

I would always love my son.....but i'd kill him before i'd let him harm his siblings.

Apparently his violence was not a recent occurrence as his 21 year old sister had moved out because of his violent temper, and the police had been called in 2004 to arrest him for domestic assault when he punched one of the women in the face. http://www.mahalo.com/Kerby_Revelus

Thank god the officers arrived just in time to save the 9 year old......what a tragedy about the two dead children.

[sgtmac_46]

Not to second guess the officers......but the officer entered as he was holding the decapitated girl.......and shot this bastard AFTER he stabbed the 9 year old multiple times......***?! Sounds like someone was a little slow in putting rounds on target......perhaps someone was attempting to apply 'Verbal Judo' first. That's a situation where you walk in, see him holding the decapitated girl, and tell him to drop the knife at the SAME TIME you start putting rounds in to the SOB!

[blackcatrun]

? I cryed when I read this events had happened. The family most likely feared this young man and would not take steps to remove him because he would use extreme violence against them at some point in the future would be my best guess.
State took no actions asking if the family feared his doing even worse harm?


This extra damage to the innacent happens the more police are sued by the extremely disturbed.

[blackcatrun]

Not to second guess the officers......but the officer entered as he was holding the decapitated girl.......and shot this bastard AFTER he stabbed the 9 year old multiple times......***?! Sounds like someone was a little slow in putting rounds on target......perhaps someone was attempting to apply 'Verbal Judo' first. That's a situation where you walk in, see him holding the decapitated girl, and tell him to drop the knife at the SAME TIME you start putting rounds in to the SOB!

The officers have been suspended and are in counceling.

These officers saved the life of one child from a killer and they get suspened for the efforts made to feel guilty over use of force neccarry to prevent the harm of anouther citizen instead of a warm "thank you" from the police department heads.

[sgtmac_46]

The officers have been suspended and are in counceling.

These officers saved the life of one child from a killer and they get suspened for the efforts made to feel guilty over use of force neccarry to prevent the harm of anouther citizen instead of a warm "thank you" from the police department heads.

Actually they haven't been suspended........they've been given paid administrative leave which is customary after any use of lethal force.

The shooting will be found fully justified, and these guys will get a commendation for their actions.

[sgtmac_46]

This extra damage to the innacent happens the more police are sued by the extremely disturbed. That much is true......and fear of law suits has a tendency to make LEO's hesitate in shooting when they are absolutely justified in shooting.

This is why i've long maintained that Law Enforcement Officers aren't shooting as many people as they should, as soon as they should.

[bella-day]

I would always love my son.....but i'd kill him before i'd let him harm his siblings.

Apparently his violence was not a recent occurrence as his 21 year old sister had moved out because of his violent temper, and the police had been called in 2004 to arrest him for domestic assault when he punched one of the women in the face. http://www.mahalo.com/Kerby_Revelus

Thank god the officers arrived just in time to save the 9 year old......what a tragedy about the two dead children.

The 9 year old is one brave little kid.

His sister moved out because she was afraid of him?

I'm with you. I would love him but never, ever would I allow him to put anyone in the family in danger by allowing him to stay.

This type of behavior doesn't just happen overnight. This young man's criminal history is a testament to that statement.

We must keep in mind the crimes that are laid out in the article come right from his police records. There is a very good possibility...if no probability...that he had only been arrested for a fraction of his violent episodes.

As far as criticizing the parents?

It is the parents that allowed this young man to have access to their children.

Parenting is not always an easy job. You sometimes have to make some very tough calls. Although my heart would ache to have to make this call...I really do not feel it would fall into the tough call category. It's just a matter of allowing your brain to take its rightful place and the decision would be easy to make although the carry through would be difficult.

A parent has to mindful and diligent when it comes to the safety of their children.

This boy would have been doing very well to have lived in our home 1 day past his 18th birthday.

[blackcatrun]

Actually they haven't been suspended........they've been given paid administrative leave which is customary after any use of lethal force.

The shooting will be found fully justified, and these guys will get a commendation for their actions.

Oh.. I had no idea they did this as standerd practice now.

[MrShotShot]

Well as my Grandmother said on more than one occasion, "I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it."

[blackcatrun]

bella-day, It might have been fear and denial coming from the parents.

I dont know for sure to really say this is any truth.

But it does ask an important question about how parents can protect themselves from a child who is extremely violent and might use deadly force like this one did. It is my opinion everything is geared to the child being a victom of the parents. Most of the data I have come across is for the protection of children.

[blackcatrun]

Well as my Grandmother said on more than one occasion, "I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it."


My father just tenderized my backside to make his point.

Never one for many words.

[bella-day]

bella-day, It might have been fear and denial coming from the parents.

I dont know for sure to really say this is any truth.

But it does ask an important question about how parents can protect themselves from a child who is extremely violent and might use deadly force like this one did. It is my opinion everything is geared to the child being a victom of the parents. Most of the data I have come across is for the protection of children.


I have no doubt his parents were afraid of him.

All the more reason to see that he is removed from the home. Leaving their younger children and an elderly grandmother alone with a son who has a strong history of violent acts was a very bad judgment call.

There is no way I would allow someone I'm afraid of to live under my roof. The home is supposed to a sanctuary from the rest of the world.

I would not allow an adult child of mine to take my safety and that of other family members away from us.

This behavior did not come out of nowhere. His criminal history speaks loudly of that fact.

[blackcatrun]

I have no doubt his parents were afraid of him.

All the more reason to see that he is removed from the home. Leaving their younger children and an elderly grandmother alone with a son who has a strong history of violent acts was a very bad judgment call.

There is no way I would allow someone I'm afraid of to live under my roof. The home is supposed to a sanctuary from the rest of the world.

I would not allow an adult child of mine to take my safety and that of other family members away from us.

This behavior did not come out of nowhere. His criminal history speaks loudly of that fact.

In that we agree.

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

The 9 year old is one brave little kid.

His sister moved out because she was afraid of him?

I'm with you. I would love him but never, ever would I allow him to put anyone in the family in danger by allowing him to stay.

This type of behavior doesn't just happen overnight. This young man's criminal history is a testament to that statement.

We must keep in mind the crimes that are laid out in the article come right from his police records. There is a very good possibility...if no probability...that he had only been arrested for a fraction of his violent episodes.

As far as criticizing the parents?

It is the parents that allowed this young man to have access to their children.

Parenting is not always an easy job. You sometimes have to make some very tough calls. Although my heart would ache to have to make this call...I really do not feel it would fall into the tough call category. It's just a matter of allowing your brain to take its rightful place and the decision would be easy to make although the carry through would be difficult.

A parent has to mindful and diligent when it comes to the safety of their children.

This boy would have been doing very well to have lived in our home 1 day past his 18th birthday.

Well posted Bella......+1

I've read all the related stories to the OP that are available on the web...and find myself still in shock over the terror and brutality of the acts of this 23 year old towards his own family. I mean, decapitation of his 5 year old little sister? That's a special type of crazy that covers this deranged act.

What puzzles me is the constant reporting of a supposed fight with a neighbor 24 hours earlier that supposedly promoted this attack upon his own sisters.
That must have been some fight to have this young man snap.....:eh:

I can't imagine what these parents are suffering through...three children gone in one fell swoop....due to a son who obviously couldn't get his poop in a group. Sad doesn't seem to cover this story. :frown:

~Mysty

[bella-day]

Well posted Bella......+1

I've read all the related stories to the OP that are available on the web...and find myself still in shock over the terror and brutality of the acts of this 23 year old towards his own family. I mean, decapitation of his 5 year old little sister? That's a special type of crazy that covers this deranged act.

What puzzles me is the constant reporting of a supposed fight with a neighbor 24 hours earlier that supposedly promoted this attack upon his own sisters.
That must have been some fight to have this young man snap.....:eh:

I can't imagine what these parents are suffering through...three children gone in one fell swoop....due to a son who obviously couldn't get his poop in a group. Sad doesn't seem to cover this story. :frown:

~Mysty


Oh my heart does go out to them. I sincerely mean that. They have suffered a horrible lose and I'm sure they feel the weight of their decision to allow their son to stay in the home more heavily than any of us could imagine.

Also, the Grandmother has to be doubly devastated. She was there. It's a wonder that the son did not do harm to her.

Given the kid's criminal history, I would be willing to bet that there were more episodes of violent behavior that were never reported.

The little 9 year old that managed to survive this attack is going to need loads of love, tons of patience, and an extremely qualified and caring therapist. I hope she is able to recover physically and emotionally from this horrible event.

[Cav Scout]

I would always love my son.....but i'd kill him before i'd let him harm his siblings.

Apparently his violence was not a recent occurrence as his 21 year old sister had moved out because of his violent temper, and the police had been called in 2004 to arrest him for domestic assault when he punched one of the women in the face. http://www.mahalo.com/Kerby_Revelus

Thank god the officers arrived just in time to save the 9 year old......what a tragedy about the two dead children.

Yep. Its a cold hard answer.