# data[].attributes.body
Reagan Williams

# data[].attributes.body
Reagan Williams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PREDICTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR | Piktochart Infographic Editor

# data[].attributes.body
Reagan Williams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Assessor: My name is Reagan Williams, here today with Linda Morris, mother of the serial killer Jeremiah Morris. Ms. Morris, can you tell me a little bit about Jeremiah's childhood?

Linda: Well, his dad died when Jeremiah was very young, about 4, I believe. Back then, I worked full time at the hospital; I left early in the morning and didn't make it back until after dinner time, usually, due to the traffic. Jeremiah's father. Dan, stayed at home with him during the day... Dan refused to go to the doctor, but I had done my own research and I'm pretty sure he had antisocial personality disorder. He hated leaving the house, or doing much of anything, so I had to work full time to support us. He would also have these drastic mood changes one minute, the best husband in the world, another, the most abusive.

Assessor: Your husband abused you?

Linda: Mostly emotionally... but he did hit me a few times.

Assessor: Did you report him?

Linda: No... he would always be so apologetic afterwards and beg me to forgive him. I always did; he wasn't just my husband, he was my partner, and I loved him. I also knew there was no way I could raise a child by myself; I needed him, so I just kept it to myself and tried to forget that it ever happened.

Assessor: Was Dan abusive to anyone else?

Linda: No, never. He was only so emotional with me because we knew each other so well; he knew he could express anything to me.

Assessor: Is it possible that he abused Jeremiah?

Linda: No, no! He loved Jeremiah. I saw their strong father-son bond when I would get home at night...

Assessor: People with antisocial personality disorder are usually known for impulsive lying and manipulation... Ms. Morris, if your husband abused you, it is very likely that he abused Jeremiah.

Linda: Well I... I guess that would line up... I wasn't home enough to prove that he didn't... oh that breaks my heart!

Assessor: I'm very sorry Ms. Morris... I know this is a rough thing to process through. Are you okay to continue?

Linda: Yes, I- I'm okay.

Assessor: Okay. If your husband did abuse Jeremiah, that would help explain why he murdered those people. Children that endure abuse often develop violent behaviors, as well. Antisocial personality disorder is also known to be hereditary, and is passed down from parents to children (Jones) ... did Jeremiah show any of the same symptoms as Dan?

Linda: Now that I think about it, sort of. He was not as irresponsible as Dan, but he never had many friends and was very reserved. He entertained himself very easily- never needed anyone to play with.

Assessor: I see. How did your husband die, Ms. Morris?

Linda: He hung himself. I got home one day and found Jeremiah sitting in our room, sobbing and shaking, with his dad still suspended... he was only four years old then... and he never seemed like the same little boy after that.

Assessor: Wow, I'm so sorry...

Linda: It's okay. I've had time to process it.

Assessor: Do you know how long Jeremiah was in the room with him for?

Linda: It had to be a couple hours, the police said. I can't imagine how awful it must have been for him.

Assessor: Neither can I. Trauma, especially at that young of age, is very impactful on any individual. Mixed with the trauma from his father being abusive, seeing his father die was likely to have a negative affect on Jeremiah; he learned about aggressive behaviors very early. This also helps explain more about Jeremiah's recent violence. Ms. Morris, an article about a study done on children showed that aggression, especially in males, is developed at a young age. The report stated, "The propensity to violence develops primarily from wrong treatment before age three. Male aggressive behavior is highly stable as early as age two. This is not because of genetic factors, which are weak and only activated by adverse early life experience, but due to the interplay between the development process of the infant brain and how the infant is treated. The earlier aggression is established, the worse the long-term outcome tends to be." (Briggs). A history of child abuses also, "increases one's chances of being convicted of a violent offense by more than 400%" ("Inside the Criminal Mind"). It's really starting to make sense why your son did the things he did.

Linda: I see; that makes a lot of sense. I always thought it was my fault that he turned out the way he did.

Assessor: Ms. Morris, it is not your fault! You did the best you knew how to. Can you explain to me what Jeremiah was like as a child, around age 3-8?

Linda: Oh, that was not the best time for him...

Assessor: I understand, but analyzing these behaviors may be very helpful to further our understanding on murderers.

Linda: He threw tantrums a lot. Once I put him into day care, and then pre-school after his father passed, I would get reports almost daily of Jeremiah either fighting with the other kids, or just flat out breaking the rules. He never really showed that bad behavior around me, though...

Assessor: That is understandable. People with antisocial personality disorder are characterized by consistent breaking of the rules and little regard for others feelings and wellbeing.

Linda: That sounds exactly like him and his dad... I should have picked up on it before! Looking back its so obvious to see how he would have turned out based on his dad.

Assessor: Would you say it's almost predictable, who will turn into a criminal or murderer based on their childhood and various other factors?

Linda: You know, I think it could be predictable. Maybe if we started examining individuals' childhoods, as well as other factors, as you said, we could really save a lot of lives and significantly decrease the crime rate.

Assessor: You're right, Ms. Morris! Perhaps something along those lines will be developed in the future. I want to thank you for your time today and being so open with me.

Linda: No problem at all, I'm glad I could help. It seems like there's a lot of information I revealed, I'm willing to help with anything else I can.

Assessor: Thank you, Ms. Morris.

Linda: And thank you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Assessor: My name is Reagan Williams, here today with Linda Morris, mother of the serial killer Jeremiah Morris. Ms. Morris, can you tell me a little bit about Jeremiah's childhood? Linda: Well, his dad died when Jeremiah was very young, about 4, I believe.

# data[].attributes.body
Reagan Williams

# data[].attributes.body
Reagan Williams

# data[].attributes.body
Reagan Williams