IMO, Dale Smith Jr. has a mental disorder and and needs treatment. Not self-help treatment. Not AA. Serious psychological treatment.
IMO, he has the traits of a sociopath. Inflicting violence on others for no reason at all (victim #1, the young man who Dale helped kill when he was 20, and the pregant lady on the beach in South Carolina when he was a marine), is a hallmark of that personality disorder. These two were literally random stangers picked out for his own amusement, I guess.
And then of course, there's the violence he's inflicted on those he supposedly loved (his second wife, his next fiance, and then Michelle Parker).
I've learned something from this case. Never, EVER take someone's word for who they are. Before you start a serious relationship, before you marry that person, check their criminal record. It's easy to do. Could save your life.
And his criminal record should come back to haunt him!
I think you're onto something Lark. *A sociopath has some of the following characteristics:
* Glibness/superficial charm
* Manipulative and conning
* Grandiose sense of self
* Pathological lying
* Lack of remorse, shame or guilt
* Shallow emotions
**Poor behavioral controls/impulsive nature
* Early behavior problems/juvenile delinquency
* Irresponsibility/unreliability
* Promiscuous sexual behavior/infidelity
* Criminal or entrepreneurial versatility
**Secretive
* Paranoid
**Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
* Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
* Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
* Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
**Narcissism, grandiosity (self-importance not based on achievements)
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
How many of these fit Dale based on what we know?