My 18 year old female cousin killer her mother (my aunt) on her 18th birthday with a knife. Stabber her 29 times. Is the knife to blame? No! Is my cousin to blame? No! You might say then who the hell is to blame?

Well, my aunt had my cousin confined to Camarillo mental institution when she was 17 because of her behavior. Camarillo mental health hospital released her on her 18th birthday because she became an adult and they couldn't legally hold her any longer. She was released an told not to go home to mother. She called her estranged father (my uncle Bob) who'd been out of the picture for 6 years because of a nasty divorce and he was thrilled to get the call from his daughter that he hadn't spoken to for 6 years. He picked her up from the hospital, took her to lunch, gave her some money etc. They had a nice long visit and his daughter asked him if she could come stay with him. He said that she couldn't come and stay with him right now because he was living as a guest in someone else's home at the time but that he would let her come live with him after he got a place of his own. Of course he had no idea of the ill will between mother and daughter so he offered to take her to her mother's house. He dropped her off about a 1/2 block down the street from the house, that he one day knew as his home, and said goodbye. The next morning my cousin killed my aunt with the knife.

Convicted of 2nd degree murder, she was sentenced to 12 years in the pen. But someone, probably her defence attorney, suggested she get help so they sent my cousin to Patton State hospital where she was diagnosed and treated for paranoia and schizophrenia. She was placed on meds and many adjustments were made until she could be placed in women's prison in Chino CA where she complete high school, cosmetology, and some other academics and served out her 12 years with good behavior.

So was it the fault of the knife, that was so easily obtained from the kitchen at fault? or was it my cousin that is totally at fault? or was it the system, the mental health system that is, that was at fault. This happened about 38 years ago. My cousin is married now, has one grown child, a loving husband, and a career, and a home. She inherited all of my Uncle Bobs estate which was substantial.

I say the system failed her. What do you say Elaine? I think you'll agree with me.

For Angmo and Big Bear, maybe I flung some SOS along the way. You two must have eaten all of it.

FYI, I volunteered and served eight years on active duty and nearly 22 years in the Air National Guard, most of it in F-4 Phantoms (F-4C, F-4D and RF-4C). I flew 100 combat missions over North Vietnam and I flew four combat missions over South Vietnam. I’ve lived four years in other countries. I’ve been to Tehran, most European countries, Lajes (mid Atlantic), Panama, the Philippines, Thailand and many places in between. ....and you?

I’ve had a lot of life experiences and considered myself a conservative until 1994 when Newt Gingrich took the party toward the far right. The party left me, I didn’t leave the party. So started a new chapter.

That’s enough