Movie massacre suspect sent chilling notebook to psychiatrist before attack

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**Frazzled**

wow.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/25/exclusive-movie-massacre-suspect-laid-out-plans-in-package-mailed-to/

EXCLUSIVE: Movie massacre suspect sent chilling notebook to psychiatrist before attack
By Jana Winter

Published July 25, 2012
Three days after he allegedly shot up a Colorado movie theater, killing 12 and injuring scores, suspect James Holmes appeared in court, where he seemed disheveled and disoriented.

AURORA, Colo. – James Holmes, the accused gunman in last Friday's midnight movie massacre in Colorado, mailed a notebook "full of details about how he was going to kill people" to a University of Colorado psychiatrist before the attack, but the parcel sat unopened in a mailroom for as long as a week before its discovery Monday, a law enforcement source told FoxNews.com.

Police and FBI agents were called to the University of Colorado Anschutz medical campus in Aurora on Monday morning after the psychiatrist, who is also a professor at the school, reported receiving a package believed to be from the suspect. Although that package turned out to be from someone else and harmless, a search of the Campus Services' mailroom turned up another package sent to the psychiatrist with Holmes’ name in the return address, the source told FoxNews.com.

A second law enforcement source said authorities got a warrant from a county judge and took the package away Monday night. When it was opened, its chilling contents were revealed.

“There were drawings of what he was going to do in it--drawings and illustrations of the massacre."
- Law enorcement source

“Inside the package was a notebook full of details about how he was going to kill people,” the source told FoxNews.com. “There were drawings of what he was going to do in it - drawings and illustrations of the massacre."

Among the images shown in the spiral-bound notebook’s pages were gun-wielding stick figures blowing away other stick figures.

The source said the package had been in the mailroom since July 12, though another source who confirmed the discovery to FoxNews.com could not say if the package arrived prior to Friday's massacre. It was not clear why it had not been delivered to the psychiatrist. The notebook is now in possession of the FBI, sources told FoxNews.com.

Both sources said the intended recipient of Holmes’ notebook was a professor who also treated patients at the psychiatry outpatient facility, located in Building 500, where the first suspicious package was delivered. It could not be verified that the psychiatrist had had previous contact with Holmes, who was a dropout from the school’s neuroscience doctoral program and had studied various mental health issues and ailments as part of his curriculum.

Holmes is accused of killing 12 and injuring 58 at a midnight showing of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises” at the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.

University of Colorado spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery said she was not aware of the contents of the package or who had sent it.

Agent Dave Joly, of the FBI’s Denver Division, declined to comment on the matter, citing a gag order issued Monday by Arapahoe County District Judge William Sylvester. Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers' office and Aurora police also could not comment due to the gag order.

Police believe the July 20 attack was meticulously planned. Holmes allegedly tossed tear gas canisters into the crowded theater, and then fired his 12-gauge shotgun at the ceiling before turning it on the crowd. As panicked movie watchers raced for the exits, he switched to a .40 Glock pistol and a .223 Smith & Wesson M&P semi-automatic with a high-capacity drum clip, sources told Fox News. The gun jammed, likely preventing far more deaths.

After the gun jammed, Holmes allegedly walked out of the theater through the door he'd entered and was removing his body armor beside his car when he was confronted by the officers who took him down, the source said, adding that the gunman seemed surprised authorities arrived so quickly.

Before mounting the horrific attack, Holmes allegedly booby-trapped his apartment and left music blasting, possibly to create a diversion that would occupy police and rescue personnel several miles away from the theater, the source said.

Fox News has learned that the door was wired with a booby-trap and a backup system that would have triggered an explosive designed to "cut in half" the first person through the door. After that, explosions and flames would have likely consumed the entire building, presumably with the intention of trapping other residents as they slept and forcing a massive response of police and rescue personnel.

Holmes, who made his first court appearance Monday and looked disoriented and disheveled, could face the death penalty.

**Jihadin**

going to be some heat on the mail system

**Ma55ter_fett**

Jihadin wrote:going to be some heat on the mail system

Why?

Are you implying that USPS should open all packages and finger through the contents?

**Jihadin**

The source said the package had been in the mailroom since July 12, though another source who confirmed the discovery to FoxNews.com could not say if the package arrived prior to Friday's massacre. It was not clear why it had not been delivered to the psychiatrist. The notebook is now in possession of the FBI, sources told FoxNews.com.

Mail Room for the college. I should have clarified that a bit more on my part.

**Horst**

Jihadin wrote:
The source said the package had been in the mailroom since July 12, though another source who confirmed the discovery to FoxNews.com could not say if the package arrived prior to Friday's massacre. It was not clear why it had not been delivered to the psychiatrist. The notebook is now in possession of the FBI, sources told FoxNews.com.

Mail Room for the college. I should have clarified that a bit more on my part.

yea... if the college delivered it to the psychology department on time, maybe they could have called the police, and avoided this whole thing.

**Ma55ter_fett**

Jihadin wrote:
The source said the package had been in the mailroom since July 12, though another source who confirmed the discovery to FoxNews.com could not say if the package arrived prior to Friday's massacre. It was not clear why it had not been delivered to the psychiatrist. The notebook is now in possession of the FBI, sources told FoxNews.com.

Mail Room for the college. I should have clarified that a bit more on my part.

So the package was in the mail room for a week and a day beofre the shooting took place. The prof didn't pick it up.

Are you saying that the mail room should have opened it (a crime btw) themselves?

Also (at least for me) in universities you don't get the package delivered to you, you have to go down to the mail room and collect it.

**Easy E**

Among the images shown in the spiral-bound notebook’s pages were gun-wielding stick figures blowing away other stick figures.

That's the chilling drawings?

**Horst**

eh, good point fett. Professor is going to get some heat then

probably not deserved heat, because who really thinks peoples lives depends on picking up their mail on time, but still.

I bet in the future professors check their mail more often.

**Jihadin**

So the package was in the mail room for a week and a day beofre the shooting took place. The prof didn't pick it up.

Are you saying that the mail room should have opened it (a crime btw) themselves?

Also (at least for me) in universities you don't get the package delivered to you, you have to go down to the mail room and collect it.

Stop baiting me Fett. If the mailroom works the same as in the military then wouldn't there be notice of "you got a package for pickup in the mailroom" follow later by "Get your package Now we don't have the space to hold it long" or if not then the psych just got a major mind screw for not staying on top his mail

Also (at least for me) in universities you don't get the package delivered to you, you have to go down to the mail room and collect it.

Did you get a notice from them you have a package?

**Frazzled**

Ma55ter_fett wrote:
Jihadin wrote:going to be some heat on the mail system

Why?

Are you implying that USPS should open all packages and finger through the contents?

In your face! fingering your mails!

I'd proffer if this occurred on early last week then it didn't arrive yet or was in process. This sounds like a suicide note as it were.

**Rimmy**

forget the mail room incident.

that notebook shows he was in his right mond when he wrote that all down. it was premeditated and he should be convicted of 12 counts of murder in the 1st degree and potentially the maximum number of occupants in his building and the theatre (could be thousands) for attempted murder in the first degree.

his insanity plea just went out the window.

there is no amount of pain we could inflict enough to give this savage or anyone else like him on earth that they deserve.

this jerkwad shot a 3 month old baby in the face and shot a 7 year old little girl IN THE BACK.

coward.

**Ma55ter_fett**

Jihadin wrote:
So the package was in the mail room for a week and a day beofre the shooting took place. The prof didn't pick it up.

Are you saying that the mail room should have opened it (a crime btw) themselves?

Also (at least for me) in universities you don't get the package delivered to you, you have to go down to the mail room and collect it.

Stop baiting me Fett. If the mailroom works the same as in the military then wouldn't there be notice of "you got a package for pickup in the mailroom" follow later by "Get your package Now we don't have the space to hold it long" or if not then the psych just got a major mind screw for not staying on top his mail

My humblest apologies

As for the notice there may well have been one

It’s just that at the two university’s I've been at, the mailroom is usually staffed by a couple work-study students trying to work their way though college, so blaming them doesn't seem quite fair.

Jihadin wrote:Did you get a notice from them you have a package?

Yes'm but if I wasn't expecting a package or other important piece of mail I wouldn't check it often.

**kronk**

When I was at university, I got a letter in my mailbox telling me to pick up a package, but I still had to go to the University mailroom to get my mail.

However, professors had their mail or notifications of a package to pick up delivered to their office or the office administrator. Except in the summer. They had to get their own gak in the summer as there were fewer kids working in the school post office, then.

As this is the summer time, this professor could have been on summer holiday. Further, if he wasn't expecting a package or other mail at his office mailbox, it could also be that he was lax in picking up his mail.

Let's not jump on the Professor or mail room too much here until we know more.

**Frazzled**

I'm definitely not. My focus is on its contents.

**kronk**

Frazzled wrote:I'm definitely not. My focus is on its contents.

Yep. I'm no lawyer, but I have a strong opinion.

As mentioned, wouldn't this make the shooting premeditated and prevent him from using the temporary insanity plea? Of course, that's in addition to his booby-trapping his apartment and planning this thing for months, as the authorities are saying he did.

**Jihadin**

I do believe it does. What if he was being seen by the psych? Say a initial appt. and thats it before he went on a bender

**Manchu**

If he can stand trial then he doesn't have a strong insanity defense. Strategically speaking, his real defense will be the attempt to show that he is not competent to stand trial.

**Frazzled**

kronk wrote:
Frazzled wrote:I'm definitely not. My focus is on its contents.

Yep. I'm no lawyer, but I have a strong opinion.

As mentioned, wouldn't this make the shooting premeditated and prevent him from using the temporary insanity plea? Of course, that's in addition to his booby-trapping his apartment and planning this thing for months, as the authorities are saying he did.

You can still be premeditated crazy.

Much depends on the state. Often, you can be found guilty but nuts where you send to a wacko ward forever or further if you're deemed sane you're sent to prison. Others are you're sent to a wacko ward and released if ever not insane. In the real world they rarely get out.

To me its irrelevant. You have to be crazy to do this. You have to be crazy to be a mob hitter or a serial rapist etc. So what? You' still should get the long good bye.

**Manchu**

So James Holmes's insanity defense is the proposition that he did not comprehend that murdering someone is wrong at the time he was doing the murdering. It's the defendant's burden to show that -- so good luck with a jury of your peers, Mr. Holmes.

Frazzled wrote:You have to be crazy to do this. You have to be crazy to be a mob hitter or a serial rapist etc.

Agreed on all counts. And I'll add that I think this case shows us that civilization requires a death penalty.

**Frazzled**

Agreed.

**Rimmy**

Manchu wrote:So James Holmes's insanity defense is the proposition that he did not comprehend that murdering someone is wrong at the time he was doing the murdering. It's the defendant's burden to show that -- so good luck with a jury of your peers, Mr. Holmes.

Frazzled wrote:You have to be crazy to do this. You have to be crazy to be a mob hitter or a serial rapist etc.
Agreed on all counts. And I'll add that I think this case shows us that civilization requires a death penalty.

my sentiments exactly. people that commit these horrendous crimes are monsters. they aren't people. thus our constitution should not apply to monsters.

**Necroshea**

Rimmy wrote:this jerkwad shot a 3 month old baby in the face and shot a 7 year old little girl IN THE BACK.

coward.

After hearing about what happened, the first thing that came to mind is why would little kids be in a midnight showing? Especially a batman movie which is guaranteed to have explosions and all sort of loud noises? If I went to a midnight showing of a movie I was super excited to see, I would be rather ticked off to hear children crying and making noise during the movie.

**Rimmy**

Necroshea wrote:
Rimmy wrote:this jerkwad shot a 3 month old baby in the face and shot a 7 year old little girl IN THE BACK.

coward.

After hearing about what happened, the first thing that came to mind is why would little kids be in a midnight showing? Especially a batman movie which is guaranteed to have explosions and all sort of loud noises? If I went to a midnight showing of a movie I was super excited to see, I would be rather ticked off to hear children crying and making noise during the movie.

I kind of see your point, but regardless of the time of the show, or what you percieve children to be like in the movies (because I have small children whom I take to the movies regularly), HE SHOT A CHILD. multiple children actually.

ok as a father of a soon to be 7 year old little girl, I am taking this subject very personal. I don't honestly mean to be rude or indignant to you, but it strikes extremely close to home for me. enough that I am willing to express my open carry rights with my kids. I wonder what a few well armed and trained dads could have done in that situation.

**Jihadin**

this jerkwad shot a 3 month old baby in the face and shot a 7 year old little girl IN THE BACK.

This doesn't bother me. To me thats causualties. I've been deployed to many times and seen a lot worse. Question is did he take specific aim at them or were they just in his "sight" picture or did he just "pray and spray". I find disturbing though is he still considered a "suspect" or the "accused". Please don't try to get around the language filter. ~Thanks, Manchu did it hands down and should be considered "Deadman walking" becuase the insanity issue is out the window since he planned well in advance on what he was going to do.

**Manchu**

No one is saying babies taken to midnight movies should be shot. No one is even saying that their parents should be shot. Or even prevented from getting into movies, for pete's sake. So let's back off the "this is personal" drama. What is being said is that taken infants to theaters is kind of dumb and it's especially dumb to take said infant to a theater in the middle of the night for an extremely loud, violent movie.

Jihadin wrote:
this jerkwad shot a 3 month old baby in the face and shot a 7 year old little girl IN THE BACK.
This doesn't bother me. To me thats causualties. I've been deployed to many times and seen a lot worse.

What this tells me is that being a soldier is bad for you and makes you a bad person.

**Rimmy**

it bothers the crap out of me. there are no "casualties" in this instance. they are all victims. there was no war in the streets of Aurora. I was in the service as well, so your lack of candor is upsetting. to answer your question, he shot a 3 month old in the face while her mother held her. that sir, is an execution.

regardless of the methods he used, it was done in cold blood to completely innocent people with no religious, morale, or political debate to srin it on. he JUST did it.

**Manchu**

Rimmy wrote: there are no "casualties" in this instance. they are all victims. there was no war in the streets of Aurora.

That's well said. A very good reminder of the insanity that plagues the whole culture, perceiving these murder victims like casualties in some war.

**Rimmy**

Manchu wrote:
Rimmy wrote: there are no "casualties" in this instance. they are all victims. there was no war in the streets of Aurora.
That's well said. A very good reminder of the insanity that plagues the whole culture, perceiving these murder victims like casualties in some war.

don't get me wrong Jihadin might have developed those feelings as a defense mechanism for the military (I work at the VA) and PTSD is a real thing. i'm not trying to excuse the label, I just udnerstand it.

**Manchu**

I don't .. or rather won't insomuch as understanding implies acceptance. If your business has the side effect of desensitizing you to the murder of anyone, including and perhaps especially children, then you need to find a new line of work pronto.

**Frazzled**

Manchu wrote:No one is saying babies taken to midnight movies should be shot. No one is even saying that their parents should be shot. Or even prevented from getting into movies, for pete's sake. So let's back off the "this is personal" drama. What is being said is that taken infants to theaters is kind of dumb and it's especially dumb to take said infant to a theater in the middle of the night for an extremely loud, violent movie.

Jihadin wrote:
this jerkwad shot a 3 month old baby in the face and shot a 7 year old little girl IN THE BACK.
This doesn't bother me. To me thats causualties. I've been deployed to many times and seen a lot worse.
What this tells me is that being a soldier is bad for you and makes you a bad person.

yea that threw me as well. Regardless of the movie type, bringing an infant to a midnight movie is the height of donkey-cave.