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Some children are capable of unthinkable acts, showing no remorse or fear of consequences.  Sometimes the victims are the children’s own parents or family members.  Consider the frightening implications if the villain of your story is not a sinister stranger, but a damaged child.

A nine year old boy poisoned his three stepsisters and brother by putting cleaning fluids in condiments and drain cleaner in the butter.   Donavan began acting out when his father remarried.  Donavan was put into a mental hospital for observation and 2 wks after his release, he poisoned his stepmother Tori by adding aquarium cleaner to lemonade. To protect herself and her family, Tori set up alarms on the bedroom doors and locked up all the toxic substances in the home. His father Steven believes Donavan would be capable of acting out again because he has shown no remorse or empathy towards other.  Tori is terrified to live with the boy, who will only become more capable and powerful as he grows older.

Signs of violence may be exhibited in early childhood.  Wade Taylor demonstrated anti social behaviors in first grade, but he was not treated at the time.  When Wade was 16 years old, he and his friend, Sean Duran, shot his father, then brutally beat and stabbed his step mother.   He was convicted of attempted murder and has spent sixteen years in jail.  Susie, his step mother, is afraid that once released, Wade will try to finish what he started. 

Carrie hides from her 9 year old son, Michael, and monitors his movements because he has threatened to kill his sister and himself.  The police have been called to the home numerous times but Michael can not be arrested until he is 10 years old.  The question is, will that be too late? Michael loses control in rages, beating walls, throwing things, screaming and lashes out at children and adults alike.

The Menendez brothers killed both of their parents, presumably to receive millions of dollars, though they claimed self defense after years of physical and mental abuse.  With little evidence to support their claims, both brothers were sentenced to life behind bars.  The night of violence that ended Jose and Kitty Menendez’s lives was not the first incidence of violence for the brothers. Years earlier, Lyle and Erik molested their cousin, Diane. They also burglarized homes owned by parents of their friends.  Lyle was described by co-workers as “Nasty, arrogant, and self-centered,”  According to Rachel Pergament, (Crimelibrary.com)   ”Kitty went to her therapist and told him that she feared her sons were sociopaths, a psychiatric term used to describe a person who lacks a conscience. Kitty’s therapist made notes of the session that indicated that Kitty was concerned that her sons were “narcissistic, lacked consciences and exhibited signs that they were sociopaths.”

Why do kids kill? Most often the finger of blame is pointed at the parents.  It is true that many mental health issues are created or exsaporated by an abusive upbringing, but it is not true in all cases.  There are children who have anti social behaviors, no compassion for others and disregard of consequences of their actions. Antisocial Personality Disorder, ASP, is thought to be hereditary, or a result of reduced brain function from prenatal factors, such as alchohol consumption or smoking.  According to Donald Black, MD, (PsychCentral.com, 2006)  “Erratic or inappropriate discipline and inadequate supervision have been linked to antisocial behavior in children. Involved parents tend to monitor their child’s behavior, setting rules and seeing that they are obeyed, checking on the child’s whereabouts, and steering them away from troubled playmates.” However, in the case of the Menendez brothers, their father’s controlling and overbearing manner may have contributed to their violent outbursts.