Scott Roeder's Family Describe A Drastic Personality Shift

The New York Times:

From the one-story house she once shared in this Kansas City suburb with her former husband, now suspected in the death of a doctor who performed late-term abortions, Lindsey Roeder recalled on Monday how he seemed to undergo a drastic personality shift more than a decade ago. [...]

"He wanted a scapegoat," Ms. Roeder said. "First it was taxes -- he stopped paying. Then he turned to the church and got involved in anti-abortion."

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[ladycubsfan]

This was a premeditated assassination, which precludes that Roeder is mentally ill. He's not; he's just evil. There is no difference between him and Timothy McVeigh. It's a shame the death penalty is off the table.
I can't believe the man is just 51. He looks at least 70. What a total waste of human space. I love how family members always come out afterward and see clearly the red flags they failed to notice for years. A huge tip off would have been the explosives he was caught with. What did they think he was going to do with those - go fishing? This man should have been under FBI surveillance and should never have been allowed to own a gun. How did he ever pass a background check? Felons aren't supposed to be able to obtain guns. Someone has some explaining to do. Gun control needs to be back on the agenda.

[Tim303]

One of the guys quoted in the NYT piece says that "to call Tiller's death a crime is too simplistic." Same logic as someone saying "to call the 9/11 deaths a crime is too simplistic." If you were to voice this after 9/11 you would be scorned at the very least, arrested even.

[HC4BO]

If only a black man could use Mental Disability as a line of defense as the Caucasian sapien ...

Looks to be very effective ...

[dems08]

He couldn't have been mentally ill, since he had access to a gun.

[onepotatotwopotato]

Do you think they'll make a movie out of it? Title: "Dr. Tiller's really, really bad day."

[lagumbo]

It seems that Roeder was just the right pickings for the likes of bill o'reilly and the pat bucannans, andsean hannitys of the world. These are the type of people in the christian right terriosts group. Just an american taliban. He had a lot of warlords preaching to him. limabugh and the rest of those taliban terriost of FIXED NOISE [FOX].

[Wiseronenow]

I would betcha he attended a Teabag event.

[Wiseronenow]

Family's alway say that after the fact and it establishes a line of defense. History of mental issues.

[DougNTexas]

I wonder if anyone in the family reported to the Sheriff that he had a gun and he was going nuts?

[Daniel Carr]

OK, so let's assume for the moment that this poor devil is mentally ill.

What does it say about all the people who have come out praising what he did?

Case closed.

[DougNTexas]

They are already helping him with his defense in court. Lock him up and throw away the key.

[dems08]

Won't work...

he planned this for a long time

[SmolderingRuin]

That's the real purpose of the rabid rightists, to goad marginal characters like this into doing murder for them.

[who38]

Sadly true. Think that there is a possibility that some of them might be indicted as co-conspirators?

[marchamlin]

No.

[trisha08]

Gee, the lawyer already has the family planting the seed for an insanity defense. I'm sure he told the family...make sure you talk about how crazy he has been acting. Bogus.

[who38]

I agree. But shouldn't the family be held responsible for their failure to notify Teller that this life was in danger? I assume that he did talk to them about Teller.

[ggmome]

Insanity plea, to save his life?

[Dire wolf]

I thought that fleeing the scene precludes the insanity defense. Or is that just on the teevee?

[youpeoplearefunny]

Nope, not eligible for the death penalty. Doesn't meet the special circumstances in Kansas.

[who38]

Kansas. Another state to avoid when crossing the US.

[Turtleluv6]

Funny thing is this man knew exactly what he was doing and planned it, now the family wants to say he was mentally imbalanced after he kills. Bunch of nuts, if they cared they would've called authorities.

[who38]

This is a family that spawned and socialized Scott. They are all probably at home counting and polishing their ammo.

[AnnfromCA]

Very sad and seemingly consitently downward spiral story. I wonder what else was going on.

[kcmookie]

Ann, please get help. If not a brain, at least maybe a straight-jacket.

[widdles]

I seldom agree with Ann, but what was wrong with what she said? Or are you just stalking her??

[HighPlainsDrifterToo]

Are you always this rude?

[charon]

KC, I agree. I think Ann is trying to dismiss Roeder as an individual who acted out of personal problems, rather than recognizing that he was manipulated by her darlings of the far crazy right wing. It is a lame attempt to exculpate the Palinite wing of the Republican party who bear direct responsibility for working the man's mind up into a froth over Tiller.

[trisha08]

Ann, where have you been? We missed your comments.

[majii]

I feel very sorry for the son, and I hope that he will not blame himself for his father's deeds.